The Islanders were eager to start strong, and despite some early frustrations, they quickly found their rhythm on a calm but overcast afternoon, perfect for rugby.

Mersea came out of the blocks fast, immediately camping in the Wisbech 22. Despite their early dominance and pressure, they struggled to convert their territorial advantage into points. Multiple attempts to break the line were thwarted by solid Wisbech defence, but the Islanders refused to be discouraged.

The breakthrough finally came after a patient build-up. A swift move from right to left allowed Carter Gillespie to pick out debutant Jordan Milburn on the wing. Milburn showed great composure to cross over in the left-hand corner for his first try for the club. Laurence White stepped up to convert , adding the extra 2 points to put Mersea 7-0 ahead.

Wisbech responded with some solid attacking phases, but Mersea’s defence held firm, ensuring the visitors didn’t get any clear opportunities to get on the scoreboard. Instead, the Islanders built on their momentum. From the resulting kick-off, the Mersea pack took control, dominating the set-piece and carrying hard into the opposition half.

After a series of phases, White scored as a result of a pick and go, before confidently converting his own try. 14-0 to Mersea at halftime.

Despite the scoreline, the Islanders knew they would face a tougher challenge in the second half, especially playing into the strong wind.

Wisbech were not going to lie down, but Mersea were hungry for more. They came out of the break with intensity, and it didn’t take long for them to extend their lead. A powerful lineout on the 5-metre mark set the stage for more pressure, and although Wisbech initially managed to halt the maul, Mersea quickly shifted the ball wide from the breakdown, and White added another try in the corner to make it 19-0.

Following the restart, the Islanders worked their way back up the field through some excellent forward carries. A strong break from centre Mike Williamson at a lineout saw the team back on the front foot. The ball was quickly recycled, and once again, the blindside opened up. Carter Gillespie, ever the opportunist, exploited the space and dotted down for another try. The score now stood at 24-0, and it was clear the Islanders were asserting their dominance.

With the game winding down, Mersea struck once more. Another well-executed lineout move saw the ball popped out to the backs. Jordan Milburn, who had been impressive all game, made another searing run down the touchline and bagged his second try of the match, completing a superb debut performance. 29-0 to Mersea.

Wisbech, to their credit, continued to battle hard, refusing to give up. Their perseverance paid off when they managed to cross the try line in the final moments of the match.

The game ended with the score at 29-5, a well-earned consolation for the visitors after a tough outing.

Full credit to Wisbech for making the journey and giving their best effort, we looking forward to seeing them in the new year.

For Mersea, it was a great start to the season with a dominant victory. However, there are certainly areas to work on as the team prepares for the trip to Thorney next week. The boys will be back at training this week, aiming to fine-tune their game and build on this strong performance.