In a match they appeared to be winning comfortably at one stage, league leaders Old Albanian needed two late penalties from Eliot McPhun to guarantee victory against a Havant side who put in a good second-half performance to give themselves a chance of the win with fifteen minutes left. At half-time Havant were 27-5 down. A dominant first-half performance, with the back three exploiting regular broken-field possession, saw the visitors score four tries. For Havant, Ben Holt gave one of his best performances – brilliant in defence the first half and just as effective in attack in the second. The end result however, is that Havant came away with no points and Old Albanian continue to lead at the top of the table.

Havant showed a number of changes to the side that started against Dorking the previous Saturday. Brandon Vince was welcomed back at prop, his first game since leaving the field against Esher back in September. Jack Colbourne returned, far earlier than we thought possible after the Henley match and Will Saunders replaced the injured Harrison Young in the 2nd row. In the backs Tom Gwyther replaced the unavailable Joel Knight at outside centre and Ben Griffin, absent for the Dorking match, returned for Will Perry who was unwell.

In dry weather with no wind and lots of sunshine the visitors kicked off into the heart of Havant’s defence with the home side immediately finding touch. The first few minutes of the game were played almost exclusively in the Havant half and although Eliot McPhun, the Albanian scrum-half, made a mini-break, they did not look like scoring. After six minutes Havant made it to their opponent’s half but lost possession. Albanian kicked through to the Havant ‘22’ but Colin Sisk, looking increasingly confident at fly-half, was back to secure possession and make a good kick to touch.

Havant were soon to concede. Although they were defending well, continuous pressure started to create space. A missed tackle gave the visitors ground through the middle with the ball swinging left and then to the right to Oluwaseyi Ajeigbe on the wing who scored out wide. McPhun missed the kick.

After the restart, Dylan Evans, enjoying more space at full-back, made a good break up to the halfway line but couldn’t quite get the ball away in the tackle. The outstanding Ben Holt, somehow defending in his own ‘22’ managed to tackle the flying Joshua Skelcey on the Albanian wing to prevent a try and then turned the ball over at the ensuing ruck. A brilliant piece of defensive work. The reality however, after close to twenty minutes, was that Havant had barely had any attacking ball.

Not for long however. An overthrown lineout ball on half-way was caught by Cam Boa who sent Jack Colbourne on a typical run to the visitor’s ‘22’. Havant knocked on at the ruck. From the scrum Albanian showed what a good side they are. They moved the ball into the Havant half at pace through their back three players with only a great tackle from Dylan Evans preventing an immediate try. The attacking surge continued and the impressive Skelcey scored on the right after 20’. The conversion was missed, making it 0-10 on 21’.

A period of relative calm, with play in the middle of the field, ended when Havant were penalised at a ruck and then sent back ten metres for backchat. The penalty was kicked to touch but Havant defended the rolling maul well. The Albanian forwards tried to break through and eventually they did through hooker Ben Alexander – a try that seemed inevitable. It was converted by McPhun on 27’ and things were looking ominous for the home team.

From the restart Havant secured good ball and won a penalty after a good Ben Holt half break. Havant won a penalty and Jacob Knight kicked for the corner. From the lineout, the visitors were penalised. Colin Sisk took a quick tap penalty and passed the ball on to Angus Southon who crashed over. The conversion was missed but a vital score for the home side had bought it back to 5-17 after 32’. Minutes later, Albanian broke through close to the Havant line with scrum-half Eliot McPhun linking well with his backs. Havant conceded a penalty on their own ‘22’ and McPhun opted to kick the points to make it 5-20 from close to in front of the posts

They were immediately back on the attack and it was only the great positioning of Ben Holt, who intercepted a try-scoring pass, that prevented the visitors from scoring again. A few moments later however, they did, after applying strong try-line pressure, Ben Alexander came up with the ball at the bottom of a maul close to the posts for Old Albanian’s fourth try and a bonus point.

Sean Shepherd replaced Cam Boa at hooker. Havant managed to win a scrum penalty and kicked to touch, giving the chance of lineout ball to the attacking side. They got close to scoring but then turned the ball over. Albanian hacked the ball up the field and it was only the presence of mind of Dylan Evans, seeing the danger, that prevented a score. The whistle blew, making it 5-27 at half-time.

Havant restarted playing right to left – a short kick-off to the visitor’s 10m line from which they conceded a penalty. Jacob Knight kicked to touch. Dylan Evans had to leave the field at this point with debutant Liam Charlson replacing him and Tom Gwyther moving to full-back. Colin Sisk and Ben Holt made two good breaks and then Havant secured a penalty at the ruck which Jacob Knight kicked to the 5m line. Havant conceded a penalty for blocking at the line out, a strong position lost. They were however, playing with increased intensity, making short penetrating runs with the ball into the heart of the Albanian defence, but the visitors were still looking impressive in attack.

An aggressive Ben Holt got Havant back into the Old Albanian ‘22’ with a good kick through and then immediately tackling the player who had picked up the kicked ball. Albanian were playing well but Havant were matching them now and it really felt that they needed to score quickly. An excellent run from Tom Gwyther got Havant to the Albanian 5m line but the ball was lost at the ruck through a little knock-on. Little mistakes weren’t helping. At the scrum Ben Holt harassed Eliot McPhun and the visitor’s conceded a penalty which was kicked expertly by Jacob Knight right up to the 5m line. Will Saunders took the ball and the forwards got momentum. The match’s only controversial moment then occurred when Ben Holt touched the ball down ‘end up’ right in front of your reporter. The referee was unsighted on the other side of the maul and the touch judge missed it.

From the 5m scrum, Jack Colbourne punched a small hole in the defence at which point Albanian conceded a penalty. Ben Holt took a tap penalty and got over the line to the left of the posts. Jacob Knight converted to make it 12-27 on 56’. Jack Colbourne left the field, replaced by Wes Dugan and a welcome back for Sam Vince who replaced Jacob Ashworth.

Havant were in the ascendant. An overthrown lineout on halfway was taken by Sean Shepherd who made good ground before Jacob Knight secured a terrific 50/22 for the home side. The lineout didn’t work quite as planned but an Albanian penalty concession gave Ben Holt all the incentive he needed to repeat his trick of a few minutes previously and score again from a tap penalty. Jacob Knight converted once again to make it 19-27 and a real chance for Havant to get one, two or even five points from the game.

Havant were now playing good pick and drive rugby with real fire in their play and it really did seem that a shock comeback was on the cards against a very good side. An Albanian player was penalised for lying on the ball at the ruck and Jacob Knight once again kicked to the 5m line. The maul didn’t quite work out and Albanian escaped. Further good play in the middle of the field secured more line-out ball about eighteen metres out but again Havant couldn’t make it count. The visitors were defending well, knowing their lead in the league would likely be lost if they didn’t win the game.

For the first time for what seemed like ages the visitors got some ball but ‘leaping salmon’ Sam Vince took a superb Albanian throw at the lineout and then put in a good run. As play continued a forward pass handed possession back to the visitors which they held for several minutes. Eventually they squeezed out a penalty and McPhun kicked it over to take the lead out to 19-30 on 74’. Colin Sisk wisely took a short kickoff and Havant secured the ball and then took it through a few hands to set up a good attacking position on the left. A score now and Havant would likely secure the try and losing bonus. The ball was knocked on and with it went, one felt, Havant’s chances.

Albanian wound down the clock with sensible rugby. Short drives and no risk for several minutes eventually forced Havant into conceding a penalty which McPhun kicked to make it 19-33 at the final whistle and the end of an entertaining game.