Havant made three changes from the Esher game. Will Butterwick started in the second row, with Aden Brassington making his debut at No.8. At scrum half, Jac Moon made his Havant debut. Oundle largely picked the forwards who had formed the basis of the best pack in National 2 East last season, now supplemented by a posse of new backs including ex-Northampton first-team players Tom Collins and Will Glister, as well as rated fly-half Jamie Annand.

With a strong wind in their favour, Oundle kicked off at what proved to be a competitive, high-quality first half given the conditions. Oundle soon took advantage of early possession with the first score in the third minute. Havant nullified an Oundle attack led by full-back Tom Collins, but the concession of a penalty led to a touch-finder from Annand, the Oundle fly-half. From the lineout, a perfectly executed drive led to a try from hooker Grant Snelling. The conversion was missed.

From the kick-off, Brandon Vince, not noticeably the tallest player on either side, took an excellent high ball and punched a hole into the Oundle ‘22’. The referee, at this point, decided to abandon any idea he might have had of applying the offside rule, with the result that Havant seemed to have defenders on them as soon as they moved. Havant, however, did retain possession, and Tom Gwyther put a chip well inside the Oundle ‘22’. Aden Brassington won Havant a penalty at the ensuing ruck, and from the lineout the forwards made the ground for Sean Shepherd to touch down. Jacob Knight converted to make it 7-5 on 7’.

Aden Brassington took the Oundle restart. He was high-tackled, and Jacob Knight kicked the penalty into the visitors’ half. Aden Brassington, playing well, then made significant ground, and the ball found its way down the backline, with Tom Gwyther bundled into touch. It was noticeable that Oundle were leaving a lot of space on the fringes of the ruck. Brassington took advantage for a second time, and Havant won a penalty, with Reuben Knight putting in a fabulous kick to touch. Havant secured the lineout ball but couldn’t get the forward surge needed. Eventually, Oundle got the scrum put in, and Tom Collins put in a huge kick from full-back to put Oundle in Havant’s half.

From here, Oundle would soon score. A penalty conceded by Havant gave Oundle the kick to touch, and with ruthless efficiency the forwards got the rumble going and sent Grant Snelling over for his second. This time, Annand converted to make it 7-12 on 15’. For the second time, Brandon Vince nabbed the restart ball and got to the ‘22’. From recycled ball, Aden Brassington crashed through the defence, but at the follow-up ruck Havant were penalised and the visitors escaped. Havant turned over their first Oundle lineout, and Jacob Knight chipped through for Will Perry, who was bundled into touch on the attacking side’s right.

Havant replied. Jac Moon was proving himself highly effective and getting the ball away from rucks quickly. A series of attacking salvoes from backs and forwards gave him plenty of opportunities to practise, and eventually Brandon Vince, from one such ruck, was able to crash over. Jacob Knight converted to make it 14-12 on 21’.

Havant had to do an increased amount of defending, with Oundle raising their game. Havant were still competitive and twice stole Oundle lineout ball. However, on 28’ Havant conceded a penalty, and Oundle kicked for touch. A third try from a lineout for Oundle? Not right away, but at the follow-on ruck, No.8 Anthony Maka got the ball down. With Annand converting, Oundle had retaken the lead. Now 14-19 on 30’. A minute later, Jac Moon had to leave the field with concussion, with Will Owen coming in on the flank and Wes Dugan moving to scrum-half.

Soon after, a tougher period for Havant saw Aden Brassington yellow-carded for what was adjudged as foul play, when in reality a bone-crunching Will Butterwick tackle had sent an Oundle player into the direction of an upright Aden Brassington in Havant’s ‘22’. Oundle had been in Havant’s half for a while now (and Will Butterwick put in another heavy tackle), but the home side did manage to hold out from the lineout after the yellow card. A full minute of forwards battering the defensive line did eventually result in Havant succumbing, with a second for Anthony Maka making it 14-24 (and a bonus point) after the conversion was missed. The half-time whistle blew soon after. Tam Lindsay was replaced by Jez Smith at prop.

Havant had a strong wind behind them in the second half, but a passing error led to Fin Ogden intercepting the ball, and the Oundle scrum-half was able to run to the line unopposed, making it 14-29 on 43’. The conversion was missed. Not the start Havant were looking for, with conditions in their favour, and for the next few minutes Havant had to do a lot of defending, which they did well. On 44’, Alex Hayton went off, with Freddie Ferson replacing him. Havant were in the game. An excellent touch well into the Oundle ‘22’ gave Havant their first real chance of the half, but the opportunity was missed.

A short while later, the home side were now seeing more of the ball. A Jacob Knight chip over a rapidly advancing defence was retaken by himself, and he got to the 5m line before a supporting Will Perry was able to take the pass and score close to the posts. 19-29 on 52’ after the conversion was missed. It was noticeable that Havant were using the overhead chip to combat the Oundle ‘rush’ defence, although that’s being kind. The visitors were mostly offside. George Pooley and Jack Wright came on to replace Ben Chambers and Sean Shepherd, and Jamie Annand, the Oundle fly-half, had to leave the field.

We’re now up to 57’, and Oundle, in response to the try, spent a longer stretch near the Havant line. After a penalty award, the visitors chipped the ball across the field to an advancing Rian Hamilton on Oundle’s wing, who expertly touched down. The missed conversion made it 19-34. Brandon Vince, with a bad back, had to leave the field, and with Tam Lindsay also off, the referee confirmed that the game would now have uncontested scrums. Dylan Evans had also left the field and it seems that he was the player forfeited under the rule for not having sufficient cover, rather than a yellow card, which is what the old guns on the touchline had initially assumed.

A word at this stage for the remaining prop, Jez Smith, who put in an excellent tackle on the very fast ex-Northampton wing Tom Collins, now playing full-back. Havant, although fifteen points down and players down, were still showing up well, putting in good tackles and winning penalties that relieved pressure near their own line. A Reuben Knight chip over advancing players had set up good position and a possible try-scoring opportunity, but Havant couldn’t make it count, with a penalty conceded. With ten minutes left, Havant were searching for the crucial bonus-point try.

With more ball, Havant were on the attack. Under pressure, Anthony Maka was penalised and shown yellow. From the penalty, Reuben Knight got Havant into the Oundle ‘22’ and from the lineout, taken by Freddie Ferson, Oundle were penalised for coming in at the side. Havant opted for the unopposed scrum. The ball went left towards the midfield, Jacob Knight burst through the middle, and Will Perry was on hand to take the pass and score his second. Jacob Knight converted to make it 26-34 on 73’, and the try bonus secured. Havant were now thinking about the losing bonus too.

They were thwarted by a penalty concession, which Oundle kicked to the corner, and replacement hooker Liam Burrows touched down, with the conversion missed, to make it 26-39 close to 80’. Havant had more ball afterwards, with a George Pooley break making good ground and then a Jacob Knight chip through putting Havant in a good position. There was no more time, and 26-39 it remained. (Doug Miller)

Tom Gwyther was made Havant’s man of the match after a strong defensive performance at outside centre.

Other League Matches
Guernsey 39 – 19 Henley
Leicester Lions 30 – 17 Jersey
Barnes 25 – 30 Dorking
Canterbury 31 – 34 Esher
London Welsh 40 – 43 Colchester
Westcombe Park 24 – 55 Old Albanian

On a weekend where five of the seven matches saw wins for the away side, there was a shock at London Welsh, where the home side succumbed to newly promoted Colchester, who pick up their second win. One of the promotion favourites, London Welsh, have now lost two of their first three games. Canterbury, a rock at home, lost to Esher, conquerors of Havant last week. Westcombe Park, always very competitive at home themselves, were well-beaten by Old Albanian. As expected, Guernsey and Leicester Lions won at home.

Oundle, Guernsey and Old Albanian remain in the top three places, with Oundle having a marginally better points difference than the other two. Esher move up to fourth. Havant jump a place to tenth thanks to their bonus point, with Jersey now propping up the table, the only side without a win.