This was a strange and at times almost surreal match in which Havant led 21-0 after ten minutes and were still leading 33-21 at 60’, before 27 unanswered points won the game for Sevenoaks. Both sides had to contend with two yellow cards – with Havant at one point in the second half playing with thirteen men on the pitch. In addition, in-game injuries to Sam Trodd and Colin Sisk and with Ben Griffin having to have his leg strapped up during the game, meant that in the latter part of the match Havant were operating a makeshift backline in which Jacob Ashworth and Archie Cleeve were both called into service.

Havant had to make several changes to the side that picked up two points and probably should have won away at Esher last weekend. Brandon Vince, who went off injured in the first half of that game, was replaced by Nick Stoffel with Ash Chirima coming in for Jez Smith. Angus Southon returned after injury to replace Harrison Young who had a back injury. Jack Colbourne took a bang in training and with concussion protocols kicking in, he was replaced by Wes Dugan. The Sevenoaks ‘20’ were unchanged from their win in the final moments against Westcombe Park, last weekend.

After a celebration of Sean Shepherd’s 100th cap (won last week) Havant kicked-off with a gusty but not particularly strong wind in their favour. They managed to do what they hadn’t done in the first three matches and score first through the outstanding Will Perry. A poor kick return from Sevenoaks gave Havant possession at the line-out. The backs took the ball on, with Will Saunders making space through the middle and the ball finding its way to Will Perry who touched down. Joel Knight converted.

Sevenoaks had possession for 2-3 minutes after the first try, mostly in Havant’s half and close to the ’22 but did little with it. At that stage, of more concern to Havant, was the injury to Ben Griffin, in what appeared to be his calf. He was strapped up but seemed a little hampered by it. He’s become a very important player in this Havant side.

Seven minutes into the match a knock-on in the middle of the pitch gave Havant scrum possession. From the scrum a move in midfield gave possession to Will Perry who scored an outstanding individual try from close to half-way on the right, beating multiple players through a combination of strength and pace to dot down close to the posts. Joel Knight converted once again. 14-0 the score.

From the kick-off Havant had possession in their own ’22 and a few moments later Reuben Knight was making great use of the wind to produce a 50/22 kick from his own 22 metre line. From the lineout the forwards rumbled forward, Colin Sisk made a small break and the ball moved to Ash Chirima on the left who touched down close to the corner. Joel Knight kicked an excellent conversion to make it 21-0 after twelve minutes.

If they weren’t saying it, most Havant followers were possibly thinking of the Oxford Quins match two weeks ago. How wrong they were. Sevenoaks made it to the Havant ’22, but Havant kicked it back close to halfway. From the lineout, the Sevenoaks fly-half Ben Adams made a good break and the ball reached the Sevenoaks outside centre Charlie Corrigan who scored to the right of the posts. Ben Adams (who wouldn’t miss a kick all day) converted to make it 21-7 on 16’.

A very loose game seemed to be helping Sevenoaks more at this stage with Ben Adams making another good break and kicking well. Will Perry produced an excellent turnover on 21’ to save Havant with Sevenoaks having space on the outside. A minute later Sevenoaks scored from a lineout, as a result of a Havant penalty kicked to touch. The ball went to the back of the lineout and through the forwards, made ground, the hooker Scott Sedgewick emerging with the ball. Ben Adams converted to make it 21-14 on 22’.

Havant were making it to the Sevenoaks 22’ but the feeling was that Sevenoaks were right in the game. Two lost balls in the Havant 22’ helped keep Sevenoaks out. A yellow card to ‘Oaks player David Irvine gave Havant a bit of breathing space. Will Saunders made good ground. A penalty to Havant in front of the posts was turned down in favour of a kick to touch on the left, seven metres out. Havant won the line-out, spun the ball left and Ben Griffin touched down in the corner. Another excellent Joel Knight conversion made it 28-14 on ’34.

A poorly defended kick-off gave Sevenoaks good field position to the right of the posts on the ’22 and after forwards and backs exchanged possession, Sevenoaks scored in the corner through wing Jacob Ivell with Ben Adams converting once more. Both goal kickers were on top form so far.

A long injury time at the end of the first-half gave Havant good position in the ‘Oaks ’22 and two penalties were both kicked to touch but didn’t result in scores. Scott Sedgewick was ‘yellow-carded’. The feeling was that going for posts might have been a better option just before half-time but the team might feel that with only 14 ‘Oaks players to contend with, that a try was there for the taking. The half ended with Havant ahead 28-21 and a bonus point secured.

Sevenoaks kicked off and Havant worked the ball back close to the ‘Oaks ’22. After this and for the next few minutes ,Sevenoaks saw lots of possession without threatening to score. The game had tightened up for a while after the break, but Havant suddenly produced a superb move from their own ’22 leading to Will Perry scoring again on 49’ with another classic finish, beating several players to give him his hat-trick and make it 33-21 with the conversion for once, missing.

Not long after, Ben Griffin received a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on, just at Scott Sedgewick returned to the field and it triggered what proved to be a real momentum shift in the game. Havant were doing more defending and riding their luck. A score was almost certain for ‘Oaks but they were pulled back for a forward pass.

Colin Sisk had to leave the field with an injury with Wes Dugan moving to scrum-half and Freddie Ferson coming on. Havant were conceding ground and seriously struggling to contain a newly confident side. Ben Adams was starting to take control from fly-half and confidently kicked two penalties on 60’ and 64’ minutes to make it 33-27. The second came after a yellow card to Joel Knight for obstructing a player after he had kicked the ball, leaving Havant with thirteen players on the pitch and Archie Cleeve and Jacob Ashworth playing in the backs for a time.

A Reuben Knight break gave Havant some respite, but knock-ons and lost lineouts were killing the Havant effort. Consistent Sevenoaks pressure led to a Sevenoaks penalty, kicked to touch, from which Corrigan eventually scored again. The kick was converted by Adams once more to make it 34-33. Although Havant were now back to fifteen players, we were chasing the game. With four minutes left Havant had an attacking scrum on the right on the 10m line. The ball was moved but the ball was intercepted by Jacob Ivell for his second try, again converted by Adams. Havant were looking shell-shocked and their decision-making perhaps a little compromised, when a penalty was shunned which could have bought a bonus point. Instead, a few seconds later, another intercepted pass, this time by replacement Cameron Cummings led to another score which was converted. The game ended. (Doug Miller)

A deserved win for Sevenoaks but Havant will wonder how they conceded 48 points while scoring only 12, after the initial blitz.

Will Knight's thought's after the game
"Well done to Sevenoaks they took their opportunities well. We came out hard and got in front but we again let a winning position get away. We were hit hard by injuries and our own indiscipline and we need to learn from that. It is a disappointing result but we will bounce back"