Havant traveled to Banbury for their first league game of the season and the first time playing Banbury in the league... There were two new debutants in Dylan Lawley at 8 who hails from Wales and played at Llanelli last season and Navy back-row Mitch Spencer who featured for the Navy at Twickenham. Both have impressed in pre-season.

A fair-sized crowd saw Havant start brightly, with a lineout deep in Banbury territory the rolling maul made its way over the line only to be judged held up.

Banbury scored from a penalty on eleven minutes after an infringement at a ruck. 3-0.

Havant’s set-piece dominated the home side and another line-out and rolling maul on twenty-nine minutes set up scrum-half Ben Holt who sniped over to the right of the posts, duly converted by Jacob Knight and Havant led 3-7.

Havant suffered two injuries in quick succession, Joel Knight went off with a head injury and Richie Janes followed with a shoulder injury, neither would return to the field of play.

Huge defense from Havant kept Banbury at bay but sustained pressure brought another penalty and Banbury was only a point behind 6-7.

An excellent break in time added on in the first half saw Cam Smith and Ben Holt with a 2v1 the latter scored in the corner to extend Havant’s lead at half-time. Converted by Jacob Knight

Banbury 6 Havant 14

Havant’s success with the rolling maul continued into the 2nd period when on forty-three minutes they pushed Banbury again over the try line, this time Sean Shepherd popped up with the ball, but the conversion was missed. 6-19.

With the Banbury bench animated on the sidelines and the crowd quiet except for a band of faithful cheering the red and white hoops on, Havant scored again, quick hands in the backline saw Wes Dugan dive over to the right of the posts again converted by Jacob Knight making the score 6-26 surely game over?

Banbury had other thoughts and when Will Brock was shown a yellow card for a late challenge back came Banbury and so did the crowd.
Two tries in as many minutes made the score closer than the game really was, but credit to Banbury for certainly not giving up in the latter stages.

Full-time Banbury 18 Havant 26

Will Knight's Thoughts after the game
“I was really pleased with the way the players responded today. The first league game is always a tough assignment and at a well supported club like Banbury it is even more of a challenge.

I think we stepped up well for the preseason work and I felt that we played some really good rugby. Banbury wanted to slow things down which was frustrating but even with the disruption through injuries we managed to keep our shape.

When we played with pace they struggled to contain us and I was also really pleased with our very solid defence.

The new boys Dylan and Mitch fitted in really well and made a big impact. Some of the driving play of the pack was exceptional and created a lot of pressure.

It was a good start, there is a lot more to come and we will need to be better next week against Camberley."