Hurries Crowned Champions of Hampshire One

Southampton brought a strong side to the island and from the kick off the Hurries, against the wind, were under constant pressure as the Southampton forwards forced play inside the Hurricanes' 22 metre line. Hurries survived a number of forward drives and managed to clear their line, forcing play to the oppositions 22 metres where they ran a series of penalties but to no avail. In the 23 minute the visitors continued their game plan and one of their locks crossed the line for a converted try, 0-7. Again on several occasions the Hurries fought their way up field but with no score. Wightlink man-of-the-match, winger Richard Henry, then made a try saving tackle in the corner. In the 46 minute the visitors added a penalty to leave the half time at 10-0 to the visitors.

Substitute and NatWest man-of-the-match, lock John Miselback joined the game, and made an immediate impact forcing an early penalty taken by Neil Buckingham 3-10. Replacements Dave Steele and Tommy Booth then joined the game and 5 minutes later Booth fed his captain Lee Priddle for an unconverted try 8-10. The visitors were now under constant pressure as the Hurries confidence grew. Scrum Half Paul Rickard, slipped up when over the try line and failed to touch the ball down. But soon after, Miselback ran a soloeffort in from 15 metres to score a try, converted again by Buckingham 15-10.

All the play was now in the visitors half with wave after wave of attacks, finally Buckingham finished of a slick three-quarter move going over for an unconverted try, FINAL SCORE 20-10.
The large home crowd had witnessed history in the making at the fairway ground as the Hurricanes became the only Island rugby side to make it to the London leagues

Hurries will play their rugby next season in London South West Four.

Team
Priddle (capt), Harris, G.Thomas, Holbrook, Dean, Birch, Rees, D.Thomas, Rickard, Edmonds, Morey, Plumb, Gasper, Henry, Buckingham, Subs; Miselback, Steele & Booth.