Rugby: Big Bognor win leaves islanders stranded

Running out for the first time in their new kit, sponsored by 1st Choice Improvements, Bognor fielded three sets of brothers – Ben and Nathan Archer, Chris and James Barlow and Dan and Mitch Brock.

It was Dan Brock who began the home side’s 11-try rout after just 49 seconds, thundering through the smallest of gaps to the sprint 50m and dot down beneath the posts.

Playing for the first time in front of head coach Rob Outen, Bognor had clearly come out to impress and their pressure resulted in a flowing move falling just short of the IOW line after Burgess knocked on. Fortunately the Bognor front-row rampaged over the ensuing scrum, with the turnover allowing Tompkins to barge over from close range.

Armandus Morgan gathered the restart and fed Shane Stevens and the former high-jumper beat four tacklers only to lose the ball in the contact.

Bognor immediately transferred their solid attacking mindset into defence with flankers Harry Dyer and Nathan Archer forcing a turnover.

Slick hands from Brock senior and Archer senior fed Luke Calleja, who gave a scoring pass to flying winger Chris Clare.

Bognor earned their bonus-point within 20 minutes with the superb Sam Newcombe sniping through a gap, beating the full-back and cover defence to score.

The best try of the game came after IoW rallied together and put Bognor under pressure with a penalty kicked right into the BRFC 22m.

Bognor’s pack dominated the opposition lineout and Tompkins got in front of his man, allowing Nathan Archer to mop up the loose ball.

Newcombe fed fly-half Ben Archer and some incredible offloads and clever handling saw Dan Brock finish an 80m try begun deep in Bognor territory.

A double injury blow struck Bognor with their 36st centre partnership of Burgess and Brock forced off with injuries. Veteran Tom Watson was introduced at 13 and the versatile Nathan Archer filled in at 12 with youngster Steve Dove introduced for his season’s debut.

Clare added his second score of the game just before half-time.

IoW started the second half well, stringing together some good phases and testing Bognor with ten minutes of sustained pressure. Bognor’s defence was resolute and all attacks were repelled.

A long clearance kick from the IoW was fielded just inside the Bognor half. Two long passes were fired across the pitch into the arms of Stevens, who showed his agility and power to run 40m. Angelou and Clare bulldozed into the defence creating space for Tompkins to offload to Stevens, who scored in the corner.

As the IoW began to tire, James and Chris Barlow used their size and unrivalled speed to storm 60m down the pitch together. Nathan Archer finished off the move. Further tries followed with Watson grabbing a double and Mitch Brock steaming over from 25m.

On Saturday, Bognor travel to Chipstead to continue their campaign in the RFU Junior Vase, where they will be hoping to further their six-game winning streak.