Havant fall away after a serious injury to Elliott Bellman

A rather dull, grey, cold day greeted the teams as they came out of the changing rooms onto the Watchetts Rec pitch. There was cheers and jeers from the vocal local support from the balcony of the clubhouse.

Havant was again forced into changes from the previous home win over Bracknell stretching the squad even further. Will Brock, back from his travels in NZ started in the 2nd row replacing the unavailable Ross Parkins, in the back line Jonah North replaced the injured Scott Morris and Cam Smith started at fullback in place of Ben Chambers who was also unavailable.

Havant started the game on the front foot gaining territory and a slight upper hand in the breakdown, although Camberley tried their best to smother any effort to release the ball quickly. Jonah North's excellent 50-22 gave Havant a good attacking position and the pressure on the Camberley defense finally paid off on twelve minutes when Will Brock broke the line to cross under the posts. Joel Knight duly slotted the conversion and an early lead for the blue and white hoops 0-7.

Camberley had the next two big chances, the first was fumbled over the line the other brought the team's level. The big Camberley pack pushed over a catch and drive, and with the conversion good the score was 7-7.

Some two minutes later Havant took the lead again when the Camberley player failed to roll away, which seemed to be a theme of the match, Joel Knight cooly slotted the penalty and the lead was 7-10.

Havant continued with their high-tempo game which at times had Camberley frustrated, on twenty-two minutes Havant had their second try. The Havant pack pushed Camberley back and as the scrum fell apart, Sean Shepherd picked the ball up and run in unopposed from the 22 giving Havant a 7-15 lead.

Camberley's pack again caused trouble in the defensive line, when a line out was again pushed over for a try. The end-to-end game stood at 12-15.

Havant still had several opportunities to put points on the board but again the execution was missing. It was Camberley who would score again before the halftime whistle giving them the lead for the first time in this exciting but bruising encounter.

Half-time Camberley 17 Havant 15

Camberley was to strike first in the second period, a penalty slotted over, extending their lead to 20-15.

With Camberley again on the try line, Jacob Knight secured turnover ball which was cleared to halfway. The next phases of play saw both defenses at their best with very little between the two sides.

Havant applied some pressure on fifty minutes deep inside the Camberley 22 but this was cleared, Havant came back again but this time Camberley smothered another tackle resulting in another penalty, kicked by Joel Knight making it a two-point game 20-18.

The next score was a good crossfield kick, clearly from the touchline the on-rushing wing was in front of the kicker, but the referee would have needed eyes in the back of his head for that one, the try stood and Camberley extended the lead further 27-18.

Havant went up the other end and the pick-and-go worked its magic to the 5m meter line before Elliott Bellman was stopped with what looked like a high tackle. He fell awkwardly causing a nasty dislocated elbow a total freak accident. Some rather distasteful comments from the sidelines soured the otherwise fantastic contest between two good sides.

Camberley increased their own tempo late in the game controlling much of the final twenty minutes or so, three penalties for Havant infringements at the breakdown were all taken stretching the lead to 36-18 well beyond the reach of Havant. A contest that was full bloodied and in the main well-policed finished with a loud shrill of the referee's whistle. Loud cheers from the balcony greeted both teams as they left the pitch.

Full-time Camberley 36 Havant 18

As a fan, I would just like to wish Elliott Bellman a swift recovery from a nasty injury.

Will Knight's thoughts after the game

"We said in the week that while this game didn’t define our season it was certainly a key opportunity.

We started well and I felt that we were playing the better rugby but we were guilty of not converting pressure into enough points.

Camberley is a good side and they were more efficient in the red zone than us today. We need to be more clinical when we are pressing.

The injury to Elliott was really nasty, we all wish him a speedy recovery.

I cannot fault the commitment of the squad and their response in the bar was brilliant. The true spirit of rugby is alive and very well.