The Old Whitgiftians travelled to the Isle of Wight to play against the Sandown and Shanklin Hurricanes in a match to decide which team would be promoted to London Division IV.

In sunny, warm conditions there was not a hurricane but a strong wind blowing down the slope of the home team’s pitch, against which the OWs chose to play.

From the start both sides attacked, the Hurricanes’ through their backs and the OWs through their pack who were lively and penetrative in the loose.

However, the tackling of both sides was ferocious and effective, and with the wind causing a number of handling errors, several promising attacks came to nothing.

Then a misplaced kick by the OWs gave the Hurricanes an opportunity to counter attack and with speedy running and passing they created an overlap to score a converted try.

The play swept from end to end until an infringement by the OWs gave the Hurricanes a chance to convert a penalty leaving the half time score 10 - 0 to the home side, but with the OWs feeling that they were still well in the game.

The OWs turned round expecting to be able to take advantage of the conditions and started promisingly with the forwards picking and driving with Truter Bothma to the fore and a penalty kicked by Les Todd brought the score to 3-10.

Then the Hurricanes backs, starting a passing movement in their own 22, created a position from which their pack, which by now was becoming dominant in the tight scrums, forcing their way over the line to score a second converted try and a seemingly secure 17 - 3 lead.

However, with little time left, the OWs managed to raise their game and following a break from Carl Adkin, substituting at scrum half, a quickly taken penalty enabled John Moffat to score a try, converted by Les Todd.

In the closing minutes the OWs continued to throw everything into the attack but in the end the superior Hurricanes’ team held out, leaving the OWs disappointed with the result, but pleased the way they had competed throughout.

The team and JY, their coach, had every reason to be pleased with their performances this season and they are looking forward to their Surrey Shield final against the Old Walcountians at Imber Court next Sunday.