A WONDER try by Ben Shannon could be the spark of inspiration Sandown and Shanklin RFC need to get their season going again — a moment that secured their first win of 2025.
TROJANS 24, HURRICANES 31
The Hurricanes were on the road again in Counties 1 Hampshire, hoping to build on last week's strong away performance.
They started well, with fly-half Ant Burr breaking through to score the first try.
Burr converted his own try, giving the visitors an early 7-0 lead.
The home side quickly responded with two tries, to take a 10-7 lead.
The hosts gained momentum, but the Hurricanes' Damien Seder disrupted their line-outs.
Things got worse for Sandown and Shanklin when Tom Marriott was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on, resulting in a penalty try for the home side.
The Hurricanes, defending with 14 men, managed to hold on without conceding any more points.
Burr's coolly-taken penalty on the stroke of half-time reduced the deficit to 17-10.
The second half began with strong defence from the Islanders, with George Finan putting in some big hits.
Michael Barrett's intercept on half-way led to a try, which Burr converted to level the game at 17-17.
The home side regained the lead with another try, capitalising on more Sandown and Shanklin indiscipline.
However, the Hurricanes fought back, with a well-worked line-out move, resulting in a try for Ben Kulik.
Burr's conversion brought the scores level at 24-24.
The topsy-turvy game was decided by a moment of brilliance from replacement prop, Shannon.
Fielding a bouncing restart, Shannon broke through the defence on the half-way line.
He chipped the ball forward, chased it down and scored a memorable try.
The try is deemed a contender for 'try of the season' after it secured the Hurricanes' first victory of 2025.
A spokesman for the club said: "In what can only be described as a try for the ages, replacement front rower Ben Shannon pulled off a moment of pure brilliance and skill."
FAREHAM HEATHENS II 19, SANDOWN & SHANKLIN II 24
SANDOWN and Shanklin triumphed over Fareham Heathens in Counties 5 Hampshire, to keep their promotion ambitions well on track.
Despite fielding a squad of just 16 due to injuries, the team showed determination against a Fareham squad totalling 26.
Co-captain Gary Warvill's interception and 70-yard run resulted in a crucial try — one of the game's highlights.
