On a bright sunny afternoon, Hav failed to fire on all cylinders and came off second best in what was billed as a ‘must win’ against another team that hadn’t had the best of starts. It’s 6 losses in a row now, 4 at home, and, with only 2 league points Hav’s league status is beginning to look more than a bit precarious.

Hav were forced to make several changes following injuries and unavailability. Debuts were given to Newbury loan player Greg Sullivan at full back and ex Musselborough lock Ryan McBride in the second row. Keith Molyneux took over the left wing slot, Tom Drewett started at prop and Steve Cruddas reverted to his old position as hooker instead of the injured Frazer Wilford, with Jon Barfoot, playing through pain’ starting in place of Cruddas at ‘7’. Peter Whelan was given a start at flank in place of the injured Harry Heasman.

Kicking off from left to right Hav had a chance for going ahead in the first minute when the visitors were penalised for going over the ball just outside their 22. Sid Claffey missed what, for him, would normally have been a ‘cert’. With Hav’s kicking out of hand leaving something to be desired – more often than not giving Barking a chance to run back at them – Barking had the best of the next few minutes, and when they had a chance to convert a penalty, when Hav when ‘over the top’ in front of the posts, fly half Oliver Crosby made no mistake to make it 0-3 on 13 minutes.

Almost straight from the restart Hav were level – this time it was Barking penalised for ‘over the top’, just outside the 22. Centre Callum Wilson made the kick to make it 3-3 on 15 minutes. However, straight from their restart, Barking were able to get their nose in front again when a simple dropped catch, just outside the 22, led to a scrum, which led to a drive that caught Hav offside. Another easy kick from Crosby made it 3-6 on 17 minutes.

The game had developed no real structure, except for kicking backwards and forwards and giving away penalties. Hav were able to draw level on 21 minutes following a good long kick from fly-half Sid Claffey from just outside his 22 that found its way into touch half way in the Barking half. Winning the line out Hav started to make progress through the middle of the field and won a penalty that Callum Wilson kicked to make it 6-6 on 21 minutes.

Hav then had their best patch of the match, and started to look like they were working together as a team for the first time. It took a while, but eventually they were able to capitalise when a forward drive from a line out in the visitors saw flanker Peter Whelan go over, just! No conversion left it at 11-6, and Hav were ahead for the first time on 36 minutes. Before the half time whistle both sides had a chance to ‘trouble the scorer’. Barking had the easier chance as they dropped an easy pass in front of the home posts, with the line beckoning. Hav’s was thanks to a good break out of their own half by wing Keith Molyneux who was stopped just short of the line. 11-6 remained the score at the whistle.

After their stirring performance last week-end, the home crowd were anticipating that following their half time team talk, Hav would go on to take hold of the game against opponents who hadn’t shown much in the first half. As it happened, it didn’t happen! The visitors came out the more determined and had much the better of the half. They drew level on 46 minutes with a try scored by right wing Scott Shaw who went over on the right after the visitors had fashioned an overlap out right after working their way into the home 22 after a touch penalty, catch, drive, then move the ball quickly in the backs. On 57 minutes the inevitable happened when quick movement out right set Shaw free again for a try that this time Crosby converted to make it 11-18. Despite the visitors’ dominance, they didn’t manage to add to their total, thanks mainly to their mistakes and Hav’s good fortune rather than anything else. It was something of a relief for the home support when the final whistle went, having had to watch a performance from both teams and officials that left something to be desired at this level. The home crowd hadn’t seen such ‘enigmatic’ refereeing since ..... three weeks ago from the same referee!

Hav DoR Tom Drewett was a little lost for words after the match. “To say I’m disappointed is something of an understatement. Although short of a couple of key players, I can’t really use that as an excuse, we just didn’t ‘click’ in the second half. As they say, we have ‘to pick ourselves up’ and use next week’s cup game as a chance to build confidence and start climbing a mountain that isn’t yet impossible!”

Hav
Greg Sullivan (Steve Stapleton), Dickie Duke, Callum Wilson, Grant Morris, Keith Molyneux, Sid Claffey, Chris Jackson.
Tom Drewett, Steve Cruddas, Tom Wells (capt), Ollie North (Chris Cook), Ryan McBride, Pete Whelan, Jon Barfoot, Dylan Raubenheimer
Replacements not used
Rob Matthews, Lewis Osborne, Billy Toone

Hav scorers
Try: Peter Whelan Pens: Callum Wilson 2

Barking scores
Tries: 2 Cons: 1 Pens: 2