Last Saturday saw Havant visit Oxford Harlequins for the very first time, the latest installment in the Regional 1 South-Central league.
As for the Havant team, only one change from the win over RWB the previous week, Harry Carr replacing Scott Morris on the wing.
Havant’s assertive start saw Joel Knight score an early penalty after Quins strayed offside, and Havant led 0-3 after three minutes.
The powerful running from the pack was making yards every time and when the pack rumbled into the 22, the backline was unleashed and Joel Knight’s miss pass found Harry Carr on the right wing to dot over in the corner, the conversion was good in the swirling wind and Havant increased their lead 0-10.
A line-out just inside the 22 and a rolling maul brought Havant to the five-meter line again, on twelve minutes. The ball was recycled and again went down the fast backline, crisp passing saw Jake Hewett score in the left-hand corner for Havant’s 2nd try. Converted again by Joel Knight and the lead was 0-17.
Jake Hewett was injured scoring the try and was helped off the pitch with a hamstring pull and replaced by Jonah North.
Another line-out produced Havant’s 3rd try of the game on twenty-four minutes, Jerome Trail, threw in, and the resulting rolling maul sent up Joel Knight whose bullet pass was well taken by Harry Carr who sped in from 30 meters out. The conversion was good, and the lead was 0-24.
A period of possession for the home side saw what damage their backline could do, luckily a stray pass or knock-on meant they did not score. On thirty-five minutes, however, they did when the speedy winger got around the defence, only to be brought down over the line by the excellent Joel Knight. Held up the cries from the sidelines but the referee thought differently and Quins were on the scoreboard. The conversion was missed 5-24.
Havant’s pressure on thirty-nine minutes saw Dylan Lawley score his first try for the club since his move in the Summer from Llanelli, he found himself out on the right wing and the pack set the platform for his score. Converted by Joel Knight making the score 5-31. This was the last meaningful action of the first half.
Halftime Oxford Quins 5 Havant 31
The 2nd period was a more even affair with Quins coming more into the game.
They kept their shape better allowing their backline to run at Havant’s defence. Unfortunately, they found the defence a tough one to crack. Many attacks floundered due to the intensity of the Havant defensive line.
Havant also had chances, Wes Dugan was through only to be pulled back by the referee’s whistle. The accuracy was missing from the first half.
Midway through the 2nd half Quins certainly had more of the ball but found the Havant defence resolute.
Then the sucker punch, a kick up field, and Havant recycled the ball to the 5-meter line to the left of the posts, up popped Wes Dugan who made no mistake from 2 yards. Havant had their 5th try, duly converted by captain Joel Knight. Havant’s lead was 5-38.
The final twenty minutes saw a bit of a stalemate between the two sides with Havant comfortably keeping Quins at bay. Late yellow cards on both sides in the final minutes for handbags were the only highlight as the game petered out. The referee’s whistle a welcome sound to the beaten Quins players. Who to be fair did not give up.
Full-time Oxford Quins 5 Havant 38
Will knight’s Thoughts
“I was really pleased with the performance today. We wanted to get out of the blocks hard and I feel that we did that.
The physicality we brought today was immense. We stopped them on or behind the gain line pretty much all game and that makes us very hard to play against.
The tries we scored were very good and we really showed the composure we have been looking for.
Oxford Quins are a good side and they kept coming but the defensive effort from 1-18 was immense.
Next week is a huge game - can’t wait!