James Wise hattrick seals big win on the road

Games between Havant and Maidenhead do not disappoint. Both sets of players leave it all out there, make no mistake from the score line this was one of those matches.
With Maidenhead rebuilding and Havant still in search of a full squad to choose from the game was entertaining from the whistle.
There was a debut at center for the fast Fijian.. Taniela Naduva.
There was a large vociferous crowd and a slight chill in the air as Dylan Lawley made a surging run deep into Maids territory, an infringement at the breakdown saw Jacob Knight kick to touch. The catch and drive was finished off by non other than Sean Shepherd for try number 8 of the season.
When Armandus Morgan crashed over for try number two less than ten minutes later with Havant in control was the writing on the wall, would the young Maids heads drop?
The emphatic answer was no with the lightning quick winger breaking several tackles in his own half, before offloading to the other wing. He was chased down and clipped, but his momentum took him over the line. Game on!
The next phases of play were Havant dominating the breakdown and moving swiftly into the Maids 22. The ball was whipped out to the wing where James Wise finished the move, Havant led 17-7.
Maids pulled back three from a penalty only to see speedster James Wise score his 2nd try of the game, 24-10 Havant led.
Both teams had yellows in the next phases of play with the game getting a little feisty (handbags). Up stepped James Wise with a great team try for the bonus point and his hat-trick, Giving Havant a healthy halftime lead.

Half-time Maidenhead 10 Havant 31

The 2nd period was only minutes old when the home crowd stood up for their 2nd try with the fullback racing in, again Havant were guilty of dropping off tackles. Within minutes though Havant had replied, a penalty kicked to touch and another catch and drive line-out. Sean Shepherd again! Nine tries now this season. making the score 17-38.
Minutes later another big break from Havant saw Jake Hewett on the scoresheet with a well worked try, Havant were moving through the gears and very clinical with the finishes. Maids were trying hard to stay with the red & white hoops.
It was Maids turn to show some moves and after some sustained pressure and a Ben Holt yellow they moved to the 5m line only to be foiled by some great “D” from Havant.
Move of the match from Havant’s point of view came when Wes Dugan made a break from inside his own half, breaking a couple of tackles he offloaded to Reuben Knight who dummied no less than four Maids players at the same time to go in under the posts. The Maids support around me in the stands applauded that one. Havant led 17-52 with just under twenty to go.
With better execution surely more tries would have followed but the midfield stalemate continued till into injury time when Maids pulled back another try.

Full-time Maidenhead 24 Havant 52

Will Knight’s thoughts after the game
“No one should underestimate how tough Maidenhead are on their own pitch. They just don’t go away! Having said that we were good today and took our opportunities well. We lost our focus a couple of times and will need to look at how to improve on that but to come here and score eight tries is a great outcome.”