Havant suffered their sixth successive loss this season against a fired-up London Welsh who were seeking to get themselves off the bottom of the table. Buoyed by a vociferous crowd (estimated at over 1000) and celebrating their 140th year as a rugby club, they scored eight tries to Havant’s four with Havant securing their 8th successive try-scoring bonus. Once again it was defensive vulnerability, particularly when playing ‘on the turn’ through the middle where Havant struggled although a lack of quality first-phase possession for most of the match also played its part.

Havant showed two changes from the side that lost at Hooks Lane against Bury St Edmunds last Saturday. Craig Durnin came in for Freddie Ferson in the second row and Tom Gwyther at inside centre for Jacob Knight. Welsh made six changes to the side heavily beaten away at Westcombe Park, with four of them in the forwards. Will McKenna came in for Jordan Dyer at tight head, Ed Couzens for Dan Ogden in the second row and Frankie Souto made his debut in the back row with Ben Davies also selected. Jacob Ham took over at scrum half with Harri Lang back in the side on the wing.

London Welsh kicked off playing with a strong wind and driving rain which quickly dissipated. Welsh then began a period lasting around twelve minutes where Havant barely saw the ball. From the start Havant took the ball to the 10m line but immediately knocked it on. Both of the home team’s centres including the ‘ex’ Exeter Chiefs centre Max Bodily were moving the ball well from the start and Welsh were presenting an immediate threat. Daf Manley made space to the left and patient phase play led to the first try on four minutes from hooker Garin Lloyd. Matt Hodgson missed the conversion.

Havant conceded a penalty from the restart. London Welsh continued to pressure a hesitant Havant side, who were still not in the game at all. A turnover relived some pressure but from the ensuing ruck, a penalty to London Welsh for ‘off the feet’ gave them the opportunity to kick to the corner. From the lineout the attacking side’s forwards took the ball up to the line and scrum half Jacob Ham fed the ball to wing Adam Dunne who touched down in the corner. Again, the conversion was missed.

On 11’ Havant had decent possession for the first time but a short time later Welsh were scoring again. Havant kicked to the ‘22’ but were asleep when the quickly taken lineout sent Adam Dunne away. The backs took the ball on and Harri Lang ran in from the ‘22’ to score on the right. The conversion was missed making it 15-0 after 12’.

Havant woke up at this point and they needed to. A high tackle gave Joel Knight the opportunity to put points on the board through a penalty in front of the posts after two good incursions from Jack Colbourne. His kick made it 15-3 after 14’. From the restart Havant secured a penalty given for a Welsh player off his feet. Reuben Knight kicked to the ‘22’ and although the hosts stole the lineout, Havant were able to come straight back at them. Jack Colbourne, already at his belligerent best, cut a great line to score to the left of the posts, with Joel Knight converting to make it 15-10 on 17’.

Havant were now the dominant side and pressurising London Welsh into conceding regular penalties. A rare lost lineout on the home side’s own throw was exploited by the visitors and an attack into the ‘22’ led by two good breaks from Dylan Evans in close succession gave Havant good position where the ‘Welsh were penalised for coming in at the side of the ruck. Joel Knight was successful with the kick to make it 15-13 to London Welsh despite scoring three tries to Havant’s one.

On 26’ Havant scored again to take the lead. A penalty for not releasing by Ed Couzens, forced by Craig Durnin, gave Reuben Knight the chance to put his side into the ‘22’ from the halfway line. From the lineout Reuben Knight kicked across the field, the ball was diverted into Will Perry’s hands and with a bit of work to do he crossed over to the right of the posts with Joel Knight again converting, making 15-20 on 26’. A crucial moment soon followed on 29’ with wing Dylan Evans, try-line beckoning, just failed to hold a box-kick from Colin Sisk with a try the likely consequence.

On 33’ the home side secured their try bonus. Their phase play was impressive throughout and this time gave the space for prop … a prop … Sam Johnson, to hit a great line and score. Hodgson converted for the first time to make it 22-20. Just at the moment when Havant had got themselves back into the game they were ceding possession at the lineout and giving away several penalties too. With the Welsh backs regularly threating the Havant defence it came as little surprise when an excellent backs movement set up Frankie Souto for his debut try on 37’. Hodgson missed the conversion.

The increasingly influential Max Bodily almost scored again from a chip and chase on the cusp of half-time. Missed kicks were helping to keep Havant in the game with a score of 27-20 suggesting a close game but a 5-2 try count painting a different picture with Havant having a lot to do, particularly in defence and with pass accuracy. Havant were looking like the side they have been over the last few weeks – talented, with frequent try-scoring potential but defensively vulnerable and clearly lacking in confidence.

Havant’s desire to start the second half with a show of strength was snuffed out almost instantly on the restart when good build up work from the London Welsh backs, after a Havant knock-on, presented a second score from Frankie Souto to make it 34-20 on 42’ after replacement goal-kicker Osian McAvoy made the conversion. From here Havant mounted a series of attacks. On 44’ a quick lineout, led to a Jack Colbourne break. He passed to Sean Shepherd for what appeared to be a try-scoring pass but the referee deemed it forward. Even the more one-eyed Havant followers had to agree with him.

More Havant pressure was piled on and for a long while it seemed that Havant were on the verge of making decisive scores. Souto was penalised for ‘hands’ on the ball at the ruck, after a good Reuben Knight break, but the visitors conceded lineout possession and then a penalty. Eventually pressure told. Havant’s ‘man of the match’ Jack Colbourne, made two penetrating drives into the Welsh defence and created space on the outside to the left for Tom Gwyther to score with a three-to-one overlap giving him plenty of time to get over. The conversion was missed. Now 34-25 on ’52.

Havant failed to protect their position. A moment later, after the restart, the London Welsh prop Jordan Dyer took an excellent line into the 22 and passed the ball on to Fraser Wem who scored to the left of the posts with McAvoy again converting to make it 41-25 on 54’.

Havant needed to respond quickly. A good passage of play after the Welsh score took Havant close to the 5m line. Ben Holt, on for Colin Sisk, took a quick tap and was tackled immediately by a non-retreating London Welsh player close to the line. That a yellow card was not immediately given was surprising. That a penalty try was not awarded, inevitable, once the yellow card hadn’t been given. Both decisions, in the eyes of the gaggle of Havant and several passing London Welsh followers, were poor.

Almost immediately afterwards Sean Shepherd was deemed to have been held up over the line to the amazement of himself and most who were close to play. On 63’ after very little first phase possession, Havant were able to turn the ball over at a scrum. The ball was taken on by forwards and backs and Tom Gwyther broke two tackles to touch down to the right of the attacking side’s posts. Joel Knight converted to make it 41-32 on 64’ and a crucial bonus point earned by Havant for the fourth try.

There were still sixteen minutes to go and Havant looked the dominant side with Welsh seeming tired. Havant again took London Welsh scrum possession and then a lineout and it seemed to reflect the changing nature of the game. Jack Colbourne who had been replaced by Wes Dugan, moved to the wing to replace Dylan Evans, it must be assumed because of injury, but such was the regularity of player changes that it was hard to tell who was on and off and why.

On 71’ a Welsh knock-on in the middle of the field gave Havant an excellent attacking position. The game turned, but not the way Havant followers were expecting. Havant started to kick the ball more frequently, much of it aimless. Both sides were a little edgy. A big London Welsh scrum and a subsequent penalty kick that was missed were balanced by a Welsh knock on in midfield. Havant were looking for a try that would secure the bonus. London Welsh, a try that would prevent it.

It was London Welsh that prevailed. A try on the right from wing Andy Dunne, after another Max Bodily break effectively killed off Havant’s losing bonus possibilities although Havant applied pressure and Sean Shepherd, trying to catch the ball and score, was deemed to have knocked on when it seemed the ball had actually come off his back or shoulder. (Doug Miller)