The was a hard match to watch and I would think, a harder match to play in. After the golden run of five bonus point wins, this match proved to be one step too far for Havant as an angry Bury St Edmunds made up for a defeat last time out with a performance full of aggression, accuracy and pace as well as defensive sharpness. Havant barely made it into the Bury 22 in the first-half. The tight exchanges were relatively well-contested with Havant competitive in the scrum – which they hadn’t been in the game last autumn - and winning most of their own lineout ball. However, the side lacked aggression in attack until the last thirty minutes and the high number of errors gave the host easy ball to feast on. Havant can file this game away quickly as simply a very bad day in all departments and make amends in the home match against London Welsh this coming Saturday. Bury St Edmunds still look the best all-round side in this division with an extremely quick back five.

Havant made four changes (one positional) to the side that beat Canterbury at the end of January. Will Perry was a late withdrawal with Dylan Evans starting. Liam Charlson was promoted from the Dolphins to take his position on the bench. Will Saunders moved from the back-row into the second row. Sam Vince and Jack Colbourne returned after missing the last match. Bury St Edmunds made two changes to the side that lost in the final moments to Westcombe Park last time out with Matthew Hicks coming in at hooker and second row forward George Bretag-Norris, a team regular, returning.

Bury kicked off playing from right to left if you were viewing from the main stand. Colin Sisk took the ball and made a good touch to halfway. From there however, the hosts dominated possession and point-scoring to the extent that they scored five tries, all converted, over the next twenty-five minutes. From the lineout, Bury scored their first. Their quick backs punched holes in the Havant defence before the scrum-half sent over centre Samir Kharbouch for the try, converted by Ben Penfold. Havant did then have possession with Brandon Vince, Will Saunders and Craig Durnin punching holes in the defence and taking the visitors up to the host’s ‘22’.

From there however, Havant conceded a penalty. Bury kicked to touch and then put up a high ball which was well-taken by Dylan Evans. A penalty was conceded at the ruck and Bury kicked for the corner. Nothing came of that for the home side but soon Havant were under pressure again. Havant conceded a penalty for tackling a player in the air (a marginal call) and Bury went on the attack. They looked certain to score, until the try-scoring pass missed the Bury wing and went into touch. Soon Bury were attacking again and a missed tackle in midfield allowed wing Andrew Denham to break free and score. The try was converted by Penfold, who would only miss one all afternoon. 14-0 after 14’.

Havant did then have some ball with breaks from Joel Knight and Tom Gwyther making ground, and Brandon Vince also to the fore. Dylan Evans also threatened and a good kick from Colin Sisk got field position in the opposition half. Bury however, seemed defensively in control and it was the hat-trick hero from the first match at Hooks Lane, Ruaraidh Williams, who went over at the posts to extend Bury’s lead, with gaps in the defence making it relatively easy for the fast Bury backs to make ground. Penfold converted to make it 21-0. Havant were failing to protect the ball and were too easy to open up.

Three minutes later (25’), the hosts went 28-0 up. Havant had possession in the Bury half but turned the ball over. Bury’s full-back kicked through and an outrageous bounce wrong-footed the Havant back three and allowed Rees to take the ball on half-way and run through to score. From the kick-off Bury scored again. They cut through the middle once more and then slick passing in the backs sent over Andrew Denham for his second. The conversion made it 35-0 on 26’. Havant supporters were now talking about the miracle recovery last season at the same ground but without real conviction. The home side were relentless and at this stage had barely made it into the host’s ‘22’.

Three minutes later Havant scored … or at least they thought they had. Dylan Evans cut a good line from a lovely short pass from Tom Gwyther but it was deemed to have been just forward. Sean Shepherd was replaced by Pete Austin (he would return with about 15 to go) and Colin Sisk left the field for Ben Holt, briefly as it turned out. Soon Bury would score again. Their very elusive number 11, Andrew Denham, broke free and good passing in the backs sent outside centre Matthew Hema in to score, with Penfold converting yet again. 42-0 at half-time.

Almost immediately after the restart the other wing, Clark MacFarlane, went over. Havant had ball in the midfield, through a lovely reverse pass from Pete Austin. The ball however was lost at the ruck, Bury hacked it through and MacFarlane pounced, with Penfold on target with the kick. 49-0 on 42’.

Havant then started to threaten and scored from a tap penalty close out with Jacob Knight finding a gap to get through to the line, with brother Joel converting. Havant continued to have the ball. Two penalties in a row gave Havant field position, Jack Colbourne made two good breaks. Good phase play (Angus Southon handling several times) gave Havant attacking options but they were pulled back for a forward pass. Ben Holt and a Bury player had a friendly chat on the ground and others decided to join the conversation. The referee warned the captains. Thankfully no yellow cards.

Havant were competitive at this stage and, although Bury did score, it was disallowed for a clear double movement. Bury were also conceding more penalties. A clear positive for Havant was that their scrum was secure and the lineout relatively solid. Havant however, didn’t get a chance against a strong Bury lineout. Coming up to 60’ and Jack Colbourne made another mini-break and Jacob Knight put through a good chip which he took himself but found himself surrounded by seven Bury players. The ball was turned over shortly after and open-side Trystan Andrews went over although there was some doubt if the ball was touched down. For the first time Penfold missed the kick. 54-7 on 60’.

Havant had made all their replacements with Liam Charlson, Wes Dugan and Armandus Morgan (who would go on to make a jump in the lineout - approx two cms - and win the ball) taking the field. Ben Holt returned and Colin Sisk moved out to fly-half in pace of Tom Gwyther. On 63’ Bury scored again. Havant were attacking well, but a threatening move broke down in midfield and Bury replacement Alex Earnshaw took the loose ball and broke free to run in from distance with Penfold converting. 61-7 on 63’.

Havant were showing attacking intent. Joel Knight made a trademark break, twisting and turning and evading tackles. But regular mistakes were hampering Havant’s effort. Two more tries would arrive close to the end of the match. Havant’s came from Ben Holt. From Armandus Morgan’s masterly take at the lineout, the forwards took the ball on and Colin Sisk made a mini-break from which Ben Holt was able to get over (although there was some doubt about his touchdown). Joel Knight converted. The home side responded almost immediately with a score in the corner (scorer unknown) as Havant tried to fashion a try from their own ‘22’, with Penfold converting. Final Score 68-14.