This was a tough contest between two well-matched sides and at times, especially in the first half, it was not the easiest game to watch as frequent errors made it hard for the play to develop a flow. However, the hosts showed enough maturity and drive in the second half to win the game, with Ben Holt his usually combative self throughout and kicking well. Both sides scored three tries but it was Jacob Knight, whose three conversions (one a very difficult kick) and a penalty, produced the gap that brought the win. London Welsh were leading 0-15 a few minutes into the second half, but a combination of tiredness in the Welsh forwards (their large second row players were blowing hard) and better accuracy in attack from Havant reaped the second half points harvest that should ensure survival. Havant move above London Welsh and Guernsey (who lost) to regain 8th place.

There were two significant moments on the Havant side before the start of the game. Armandus Morgan, such a great servant and still a threat in the tight, played his 150th league game for the club and for George Pooley it was his very first match, picked on the wing. The side also welcomed back Dylan Read for his first game since well before Christmas.

Havant started badly. They knocked on and then conceded a penalty. The visitors kicked for touch and from there, a rolling maul containing fourteen of the Welsh players, went over. Hooker Sydney Blackmore the scorer which Matt Hodgson converted to make 0-7 on 4’. Havant then had some possession and played around the halfway line without looking a threat. Welsh looked dangerous with the ball, particularly their centres, who had caused problems in the first fixture last October.

Havant had more good possession for a time with Ben Holt making a trademark break around the fringes of a maul and George Pooley having the ball in his hands twice and making ground. However, Havant were starting to show a trait that would not serve them well in the first half with frequent mistakes (turnovers and knock-ons especially) and a lack of accuracy often gifting possession to the visitors. On one such occasion Welsh were able to hack the ball through from a Havant error into the ‘22’ and it was only a fast-moving Craig Durnin who saved Havant with Welsh’s backs breathing down his neck.

Play was confined to the middle of the field for the next few minutes (we’re at the 15/16 minute mark now) with Havant still struggling to bring accuracy to their play. Two high balls were allowed to bounce and several knock-ons stopped any attacking possibilities. Craig Durnin continued to show up well with a trademark turnover and penalty award. The ball was kicked to touch for a lineout, but that the lineout was lost (8m from the Welsh line) provided more frustrating evidence that the hosts weren’t quite getting their game together.

At this point Havant had lost Joel Knight to injury, to be replaced by Colin Sisk, who moved to fly-half with Tom Gwyther shifting to centre. London Welsh had almost scored through a good break from scrum-half Hywel Williams and did so soon after through wing Cassie Forshaw who had plenty to do to and did so with a good finish. The conversion was missed. 0-12 on 22’.

The ‘ugliest’ part of the match then followed. Welsh were looking stronger at this stage but were hampered, like Havant, with a succession of knock-ons, one close to the host’s line, which were preventing them from stretching their lead. They found an overlap on the right from which a score seemed inevitable, but the passer inexplicably … didn’t pass. Havant were however defending with increased vigour. Incursions into Havant’s half and the ‘22’ were generally well repelled. The referee was managing the breakdown well, allowing a fair contest for the ball, which we don’t often see these days. But Havant were still knocking on themselves, passing the ball to static players and not with the precision required to fashion scores of their own.

Welsh were still pushing hard (we’re at around 32’ now). A high tackle gave the visitors a penalty which was kicked to touch close to the try line but Havant were able to prevent more scores. Ben Holt was kicking well, and with distance, to allow his side to get close to the half-way line from their own ‘22’ on several occasions. A couple of minutes later Havant were on the attack and creating their first try-scoring opportunity. Jack Colbourne broke free and moved the ball to Dylan Read, but his pass didn’t quite get taken outside him and the chance was gone. Havant continued to put better passages of play together with Sean Shepherd making a good half-break. A penalty was won and kicked to 8m out. Havant mauled the ball nearer the line but the maul was slowed by the opposition and play broke down in the backs. The referee’s whistle went for half-time – 0-12.

If Havant were hoping to get back into the game at the beginning of the second half, worse was to follow. Sam Vince had to leave the field (replacement Wes Dugan) to what seemed a serious knee injury, possibly his ACL. Welsh kicked a penalty through Matt Hodgson to make it 0-15 on 43’. What was noticeable was that Welsh, up to this stage, were choosing not to take lots of contact, making sure that players were on the ball handler’s shoulder to take a pass. But things were about to change. London Welsh players were starting to tire, particularly their bigger forwards and Havant started to add accuracy and directness to their own effort, sensing perhaps an opportunity to get back into the game.

The scores started to come. Ben Holt put up a good high ball which was taken by Sam Trodd (with what felt like virtually his first touch). Angus Southon put in a nice pass to George Pooley on the right and from the maul Jack Colbourne broke through two tackles to score to the right of the posts. Jacob Knight converted to make it 7-15 on 45’. The next score however came immediately and gave Havant a warning that Welsh weren’t going to make it easy. What seemed a simple defendable backs move, developed into something more threatening and Cassie Forshaw went over for his second try on the right. The conversion was missed.

Havant were back to it. They applied pressure and Sam Trodd make a good break which set up a good attacking position.. A wide pass was thrown out to Will Perry who seemed certain to score but the pass was deemed forward (it was). The referee went back for a penalty which Jacob Knight kicked to the corner. Will Saunders (on for Jack Colbourne – ribs) took the ball and a good maul sent Sean Shepherd over to score. Jacob Knight again converted, making it 14-20 on 53’. Havant were still on a warning. A good break from the Welsh fly-half Hodgson took them to the Havant ‘22’. Havant were grateful that a Welsh back butchered a pass that would have sent the Forshaw through to the line.

Ben Holt, coming more and more into the game as an attacking force make a lovely blindside break and kicked through to the Welsh ‘22’. The Welsh full-back McAvoy could only hack the ball under pressure into touch. Havant won the lineout but were held up close to the line, with Welsh awarded the scrum put-in. Havant were soon on the attack again. A scoring opportunity on the right was missed but Ben Holt again drove the side forward and the ball was worked to the left and George Pooley muscled his way over for his first senior try on his first 1st team appearance. Jacob Knight slotted a superb touchline conversion and, for the very first time, Havant had the lead at 21-20 on 61’.

From the kick-off Ben Holt put a superb kick in from just outside his own ‘22’ to the Welsh ’22’ (in his interview recently he felt his kicking has improved a lot this season and it clearly has). It hit the flag so the defending side took the lineout. The ball was returned to Havant and Colin Sisk took a lovely catch with the ball then fed on to Sam Trodd who broke through and then moved it on to Jacob Knight who made good ground up the middle and set up George Pooley. Welsh recovered but Havant were threatening to score again.

Eventually Welsh regained the ball. A poor kick was returned by McAvoy for a Welsh 50/22 and a real chance for them to retake the lead. There then followed a moment of controversy as Welsh mauled all the way to the Havant line and appeared to score. The referee gave it but then reversed the decision. I made inquiries as to why straight after the game, but no-one seemed sure. Havant had an escape.

Welsh were doing what Havant did in the first half – making silly mistakes. Sam Trodd feasted on a Welsh slip-up and made a good break but what seemed a potentially try-scoring pass wasn’t held. Welsh conceded several penalties under pressure. A Havant break (I didn’t see who) led to another penalty for a high tackle. It was kicked to touch and from the lineout the ball was moved right. Brandon Vince and Armandus Morgan (on for Will Maxfield) punched holes and Havant were awarded a penalty for another high tackle. From in front, Jacob Knight make no mistake and Havant were now 24-20 ahead with nine minutes left.

Welsh pushed for a score. A great turnover from Wes Dugan saved the side on one occasion and foul play from Welsh on another gave the chance for Jacob Knight to put in a good clearance. Welsh then had the ball for about 90 seconds on halfway during which they pushed and pushed against a solid defensive wall but made no ground at all. Will Saunders took good lineout ball (he made a real lineout difference when he came on) and Cam Boa added some fire too. It was notable that London Welsh didn’t use their bench as judiciously as Havant did. The last couple of minutes saw Havant use the pick and drive but then concede a penalty which Welsh kicked well to touch. Havant pressured the lineout and then secured the scrum. The referees whistle went for the end of the match. (Doug Miller)

Across a season, there are games you might win with basketball scores (Oxford Quins), others where high-quality performances beat high quality sides (Canterbury) and then there are games like this. The wins which have to be toughed out, when the side isn’t at its best. Havant found a way to win against a team that had threatened to take the victory back to Old Deer Park in the first half, but ultimately didn’t.

Westcombe Park 47 vs Guernsey 22
Sevenoaks 8 vs Barnes 10
Bury St Edmunds 27 vs Canterbury 10
Oxford Quins 24 vs Dorking 65
Esher 22 vs Henley 17
Oundle 45 vs Old Albanian 14