The Lane was basking in sunshine with a full FPA lunch crowd nicely beered up, and even though this would be a tight encounter against Colchester who were coming with a point to prove following their relegation last week - there was definitely a more relaxed feel about today's game. In truth last week's results and the subsequent confirmation we had survived this difficult season had definitely settled the nerves, the management looked relieved and the players just happy their hard work had paid off - hopefully the lack of pressure would allow us to generate a free flowing performance. After a bit of the now standard 'pomp and circumstance' - Jez Smith came out for his 50th Cap and we got down to the business of the last home game of the season at the Lane. Both teams looked to be evenly balanced from the off, and we started relatively well and were soon building the phases methodically and creating attacking opportunities, but the Colchester D was solid and their subsequent ability to generate turnover ball from our attacks was problematical. Numerous times our attacking runners would find themselves isolated at the breakdown only to be robbed by the Colchester recycle machine. Losing a man to a card early on allowed for a slight shift in the balance but the scores remained even until '20 mins. Indeed if there was any significant difference between these two (balanced) sides in the first half, it was probably the ability to clinically execute our 2 on 1 opportunities and better generate quick turnover ball to exploit opportunities. HT 12-12 - a solid game, but not a great spectacle at this point, with quite a few periods of stoppage in the heat - my sense was there was definitely more to come.

Halftime Havant 12 Colchester 12

Second half - and finally the game started to come alive. Havant started to show more attacking intent, and seemingly got stronger in the tight and it wasn't long before Joel Knight had crossed the whitewash after a strong direct carry through the Colchester lines, Alex Hankins took the next score after his own strong solo effort bursting through tackles and carrying well to the posts. That said - Colchester didn't lie down, they just needed the ball and their ability to breakout was still alive and well, generally sparked by their 9, who was always quick to see any attacking opportunity when the ref gave him the chance. That said, Havant were playing well and looked to be going up through the gears, creating good opportunities and as the score deficit started to build so they started to find more space to attack out wide. We now seemed to be playing confidently, we looked in control and relaxed ..while still handling any threat infrequently posed by our visitors. That said it was not without mistakes and we certainly fluffed a number of scoring opportunities by holding the ball too long rather than shifting it to the wider support runner in space- nevertheless the opportunities kept coming and Joel Knight got over again before the afternoon was rounded off when Ben Griffin, who finally got over himself after a number of close opportunities earlier in the afternoon. Joel slotted the conversion from far out wide to bring proceedings to a close.

Fulltime Havant 38 Colchester 12

As games go - Not a full 80 min performance, more a strong second 40 after a steady first half. There were 6 tries and this was a 5 point BP win - what's not to like. Our subsequent league table position now has us 1 point above Oxford Quins (12th) and within 3 of Sevenoaks (10th) - my sense is the coaches will still be demanding that higher performance level from the squad and a consolidated season finish against Sevenoaks in two weeks. Lets see if we can take their 10th position off them!

Will Knight's thoughts after the game
"Credit to Colchester they came to play and threw everything at us. It was pretty even up to the break but in the second half we stepped up a gear and had too much for them. It was a good win and a great way to end the season at home. We have another big game in a fortnight and a chance to jump up another place in the league."