Havant Mariners Win Vets Cup

The first silverware of the season was up for grabs when the Mariners looked to retain the Hampshire Vets Cup in front of a large Hooks Lane crowd of 200 who had been tempted by seeing the stars of yester year !

The Hav line up was missing a couple of familiar faces with Sid Claffey un-available, and Matt Kell having sustained a hand injury at a previous Mariners training session [There is a hint here Mariners training session!!!], however they still boasted a strong line up skippered by James Hewett, and with the clubs former DOR Adam king donning the tracksuit once more in a managerial capacity.

However, it was to prove to be a tough encounter with Trojans having already dispatched Gosport, and arriving on the back on a thumping 70 point semi -final success over Andover, and boasting a large and powerful pack of forwards.

Tempo was always going to be the key to the blue and whites securing victory, and in the first 10 minutes they played some excellent rugby with forwards and backs combining, resulting in Hooks Lane legend Grant Morris stretching out to cross the whitewash, and then out half Pete Living showing a clean pair of heels to scoot round under the poles , and converting his own try for a 12-0 lead with 10 on the clock.

However the T’s pack then clicked into gear, and forcing a 5 metre scrum they got the nudge on and with the Hav 8 retreating the excellent Army official strode under the posts for a penalty try for 12-7.

It did not take long however for the Mariners to increase their lead, and with the Southampton men having a man in the bin, former US Portsmouth scrum half Matt Davis took a quick tap, and found the former US Portsmouth & Gosport prop Ben Lanigan who powered over to restore the lead to 17-7.

Discipline was becoming a factor on both sides, and it was the Mariners who ran into trouble as the half ticked on with former first team skipper Adam Jewitt talking his way into a yellow, and T’s took full advantage rumbling over after a kick to the corner for 17-12 at the break.

The HT message from Adam King was that the lack of discipline would keep Ts in the match, and that tempo would win the encounter, and that he was confident we had another 5% in the locker, and with the words fresh in their minds the Hooks Lane slightly older boys! Started the second half in fine fettle led by the dynamism of former national league skipper Jon Barfoot , and it was no surprise when after another quick tap penalty Wecock legend Mick Bacon crashed over under the sticks improved by Pete Living for 24-7, and really they never looked back from this playing the game a pace above the tiring Trojans pack , and further tries followed for RN wingman Max Boyce who had a powerful afternoon, followed by a sensational effort from Pete Living from fully 50 metres , and finally to the delight of the faithful prop Justin Powell outstripped the cover defence on the wing!! To dot down and the lead was stretched to 41-12.

In fairness to Ts they never gave up and after a 10 minute siege on the Hav line with Jon Barfoot in the bin they finally forced their way over for a consolation score to finish the afternoon at 41-17, and fantastic entertainment for the large crowd.

Skipper James Hewett praised the whole squad , and was rightly proud of the efforts of his men, and DOR for the campaign Adam King advised “Trojans gave us a stern test up front but ultimately as the game wore on we had the better quality , and were more dynamic which enabled us to move the Trojans 8 around, and ultimately retain the title, and we also had great quality on the bench to bring on which added fresh impetus, but all in all it was a fitting show piece for the Cup and illustrated that rugby doesn’t finish at 35”

Boxfresh Man of the Match was former first team Full Back Steve Stapleton.

by Adam King