Havant fielded the three Blackburn brothers in a key fixture for both teams with league points crucial.

The visitors had the better of the opening exchanges and look to be getting on top in the first few minutes. Both teams missed penalty chances and the first score was a try wide on the right where the Cobham player appeared to have been stopped short of the line, he rolled and placed the ball and the ref awarded the try, 5-0.

The home team added a penalty five minutes later to take the score to 8-0.

Havant scored next through good driving play by the forwards and sharp hands by the backs The ball was moved smartly across the line and Ross Parkins drove over for a score near to the posts. Joel Knight converted making the score 8-7.

The only other score in the first half was a penalty to Cobham for a Havant player not rolling away. 11-0.

In the latter part of the first of both players were reduced to 14 men as first Dylan Raubenheimer and then a Cobham forward were yellow carded for offeces at the breakdown.

Havant had the worst possible start to the second period with Cobham scoring after only two minutes to take the score to 16-7.

James Read replied for Havant with a well taken interception try sprinting a full 60 metres to score under the posts converted by Joel Knight taking score to 16-14.

Having hauled themselves back into the game Havant were then guilty of letting in a soft try giving Cobham turnover ball in the middle of the park which they move quickly through their talented full-back and winger to score out wide 21-14.

With the game swinging from end to end Joel Knight picked up a ball
30 m out from the Cobham line and forced his way through two tackles to score under the posts he then converted this to bring score to 21-21.

The visitors were now coming under increasing pressure in the scrum and struggling to provide a platform, this pressure causing poor clearances one of which was pounced on by the Cobham full-back who ran back in to score wide on the left.

With Lewis Osborne needing to leave the field the Havant scrum was under even greater pressure and Cobham were able to take control of the game from the set piece - resulting in two further scores making the final score Cobham 36 Havant 21.

At the end of the game the Havant players were bitterly disappointed in their performance knowing that they had failed to present the challenge they were capable of. The pressure continues to build and Havant will need to show a marked improvement if they are to amass the league points necessary for survival.

Cobham RFC Match Report