In a remarkable few minutes of injury time, Havant scored three tries to make it a five point win to keep alive their hopes of maintaining their National League status next year. However, for the second week running, their efforts were matched by fellow strugglers Chinnor and Worthing, keeping it a very tight race at the bottom.

Havant started with the same fifteen as last week, with Liam Davenport and Ryan McBride adding strength to the bench.

For the first quarter Havant just about had the best of it, but weren’t able to ‘trouble the scorer’. A ‘near miss’ Gerhard Boshoff penalty attempt on 7 minutes was the nearest either side came.

As the game moved into the second quarter some effective Havant inter-passing took them close to the line, where the visitors were penalised for offside. Playing advantage, Boshoff failed with a drop goal attempt, but made no mistake with the penalty to put the home side 3-0 in front after 24 minutes.

Dings were quick to react, and, almost immediately, they were throwing in at a line out near the Havant line on the right, after a shaky home defence were forced out. Although Havant won the ball at the line, it was with a poor tap back (not for the first time) and Dings alert forwards took the ball and put the defence under severe pressure. Unable to drive through, the ball was moved quickly out left and centre Sam Caven was able to force his way through to score, just right of the posts, which made it easy for fly-half Adam Westall to add the extras to make it 3-7 on 27. Playing with increased confidence, the visitors were soon back down the Havant end, where they won a penalty in front of the posts, with which Westall again had no trouble, and it was 3-10 on 30.

With Dings now in the ascendancy, Havant made their position worse by starting to incur the wrath of the referee for persistent offences. He made his point by giving captain Tom Wells a 10 minute break for a ‘hands on deck’ offence. However, Dings were unable to take advantage of their extra man, and at one point it actually looked like Havant would score. Boshoff broke free from inside his own half: he was caught but able to offload to centre Greg Sullivan who also looked free, but he too was caught. An offload to wing Karim Lynch took him to within 5 metres of the Dings line, but he too was caught, and the defence was able to clear. It was still 3-10 at the half time whistle, and it was looking like Havant would need to ‘find another gear’ if they were to turn it around.

For the first few minutes of the second half, things hadn’t improved for the home side. They struggled to halt strong runs through the middle, first by second row Gareth Lloyd and then centre Alex Dancer, but halt them they did and, once Wells had returned, they gradually started to take the initiative. Boshoff's kicking started to take effect and from one well angled kick left wing Keith Molyneux gathered and almost made the line. He was injured in the attempt and replaced by Liam Davenport. It didn’t look like it was going to be Havant’s day when the usually reliable Boshoff missed a penalty attempt a couple of minutes later.

However, on 53 minutes they drew level. Awarded a penalty in their own half, it was taken quickly, which took the visitors by surprise. Strong running and slick passing involving Liam Davenport and Greg Sullivan took the ball quickly upfield where no 8 Liam Perkins was able to finish off just left of the posts to make an easy kick for Boshoff.

Havant were now beginning to find that extra gear, and, with the fresh legs of Andy Tart and Ryan McBride replacing those of Tom Drewett and Rob Matthews, they started to get on top. A good individual break from centre Grant Morris down the left took Havant to within 10 metres of the Dings line. They were unable to force their way over, but did win a penalty which Boshoff converted to make it 13-10 on 61, and at last the win started to look a possibility, although by no means probable.

More fresh legs in the form of prop Big Al Davenport and centre Ben Stewart were brought on as reinforcements. However, Dings still looked dangerous as they moved the ball, or drove up the middle, and the Havant defence had to work hard to prevent a break through. Moments of ‘handbags’ increased as Dings couldn’t find their way through, and with injury time approaching, it looked like Hav would just be able to hold on.

Considering what had gone before, it’s hard to understand what happened next! In five minutes of injury time, Havant scored a further 19 points without reply, and managed to secure an all important bonus point. On 81 minutes, a good strong running individual effort from centre Greg Sullivan took him over on the right of the posts, which Boshoff converted with a superb kick to make it 20-10. Three minutes later, it was Sullivan again finishing off good work started by wing Karim Lynch. Boshoff’s easier conversion made it 27-10. A minute later Boshoff broke through a now ragged Dings defence and made ground into their 22. He didn’t have the legs to go all the way, but there were several Havant players charging up the middle, and when he was caught, he ‘lobbed’ it left into the hands of Ben Stewart, who jinked his way over to make it 32-10. A limping Boshoff was unable to convert, and the referee blew the whistle to a roar of delight from the home fans.

A delighted DoR Tom Drewett commented “That was a fantastic all round squad performance that shows what can happen if you keep going right to the whistle. Results elsewhere didn’t help, but if we can keep this spirit and commitment going, especially in the upcoming away matches, I’m sure we can achieve survival.”

Havant
Chris Jackson, Karim Lynch, Greg Sullivan, Grant Morris, Keith Molyneux (Liam Davenport), Gerhard Boshoff, Wayne John,
Lewis Osborne (Al Davenport), Tom Drewett (Andy Tart), Tom Wells (capt), Rob Matthews (Ryan McBride), Nick Morris, Finlay Coxon-Smith, Steve Cruddas, Liam Perkins

Havant Scorers:
Tries: Greg Sullivan (2), Liam Perkins, Ben Stewart

Dings Crusaders Scores:
Tries: 1 Cons: 1 Pens: 1