Portsmouth Vets 15- 36 Havant Mariners

Portsmouth RFC is never a nice place to go to play Rugby, and Saturday was no different for Havant Mariners.
The Hampshire Cup was at stake with the bragging rights and record books to go with it , both clubs have held the cup 4 times and were looking for an unprecedented 5th , and with Havant also looking to become the first to win it 3 years in a row it was always going to be a tough game.
James Hewitt, with a wealth of experience at his disposal, picked a side balanced with aggression and class , ready to outwit a brutal Portsmouth Pack. The front three saw Jamie Libby, Hewitt and Darren Kingham-scott line up in a front row of Youth and experience, If you had asked DKS in the summer , how his training for this year’s Vets cup was going , he would have calmly looked out from behind his Gin and Tonic and chuckled at even a suggestion he might feature or even consider it! , But as we all know the Rugby bug is in our blood and the lure to get involved it too tempting , DKS gave his all , and left everything he had on the field for the Havant cause.
Former 1st team Captain, Celebrity Chef, singer, Boxer, clubman (of many), Sailor and Plastic Welshman Graham Butterworth was back from injury to complete the second row , with this seasons stand out player Matt Godwin with both holding off strong competition from Dom Francis and Man Mountain Andy Sowby. The Back row was filled with workhorse Steve Whittle, tough tackler Mick Bacon, and the classy Jon Barfoot, showing that eating your 5 veg a day, means you don’t have to warm up or practice , to become a 3 time winner of the cup.
Pete Living , was out of position at scrum half but showed his skill and diversity as he dictated the game from 9. Sid Claffey was solid at stand off ,his kicking and vision turned Portsmouth inside out for the first 40minutes, and his tackling in the second half was matched by no one , The welsh wizard Leighton Davies tore the oppositions back line apart with his mazy runs, Steve Stapleton at 13 completed the midfield, as he pulled the strings in the last third of attack to unleash the pace , of Adam Terry, Tom Merrit and Max Boyce in the back three .
Havant started well , their game plan was to starve the Portsmouth forwards of ball, knowing that their huge Pack would over power them, given half a chance , It was not long before Havant had spun it out back for Davies to go over and score , Claffey would go onto add the extra points as the Mariners took the lead.
Portsmouth fought back well and gained some possession in Havant's final third, they won a lineout 5 meters out and went over to score, Havant had tried to be smart and catch Portsmouth offside, but the play was dismissed by the referee with Havant not engaging the contact, the kick was missed , but the gap had been closed
As Portsmouth tried to gain the upper hand , the game got a bit scrappy, Portsmouth seeming more content with settling personal vendettas, and mauling in their own half then playing it through their backs , with 25minutes passed, Tom Merrit broke away and took the ball over the line to increase Havant’s lead again, Claffey this time could not convert but the 7 point gap was back in Havant’s favour .
Portsmouth again raised their game a little as they started to dominate the scrums , a few silly mistakes from the Mariners saw the lead slip again to within two points as Portsmouth scored just before the break, Havant came straight back at them from the kick-off , and nearly finished the half with a try,only for it to be held up on the line. Half time 10-12
The second half started and played out as the first half did , endless digging and foul play on Butterworth by Portsmouth saw him needing stiches as he was replaced by Sowby and Francis came on for Bacon to add some much needed power to the second row. As Portsmouth tired and continued their one effective, quite boring tactic, a fitter Havant side took control, Davies scored his second and Claffey converted , Boyce steamed through for his first try of the game , to reward his hard work in defence. Claffey was again clinical with the boot as Havant opened up their lead to 26-10 .With a third successive Cup in sight, Havant looked comfortable, as Portsmouth again gave it a last push to turn it around , as they threw their big guns at the Havant defence, Thatcher hit first, then Radbourne, But Godwin then Claffey hit them back as they slid them onto their Havant pockets.
As the Game reached the last 15 minutes it was time for the Main Man to arrive , Brian "Boogie" Marsh 60 years young and ready to put his body on the line to make sure the Cup stayed in Havant , for a man who has played in every senior team Havant has fielded over his 50 year playing career, to be playing at the standard he does most weeks is truly an amazing feat, as he replaced his prodigy Jamie Libby to surely became the oldest player to ever feature in a cup Final. As marshy took to the Havant gained control of the ball and Tom Merrit scored his second of the game .
As the game faded out it was only a silly penalty that led to a down field kick to touch that gave Portsmouth any sort of ground over the gain line. Portsmouth finally bundled over for a third try, but it was only a consolation, Havant kicked off again and it was only a matter of time before substitute Rob andrew was flying back down the right wing to finish off any hopes of a comeback for an excellent solo finish . As the final whistle blew Havant Mariners became the first team to complete the Triple crown and take the lead in the competition to 5 wins in all, as the Trophy was awarded to a jubilant James Hewitt and with the sound of "Havant are coming up the Hill" ringing around Rugby camp, you could hear the Pompey faithful spitting in there beers .
Final score Portsmouth 15- 36 Havant Mariners

Havants Cup wins was dedicated to The Flag Mariner Derek Clark , Keep fighting Dell Boy , this was for you !!!