Eastleigh Pirates came up the hill to Havant on the back of a good win last week against neighbours Trojans, but the Dolphins were fielding a strong side. It took 5 minutes for Dolphins to get a score on the board as scrum Half Robbie Hume scuttled over for a try and Harry Rabjohn kicked the first of 4 conversions for the day., 7-0. Penalties kept the Pirates in the game as they kicked two to get score back to 7-6. After turning over the ball Eastleigh were exposed to the back line of the Dolphins who with a very slick backs attack got winger Jonah North in in the corner. Quickly afterwards lock Sam Vince went in in the other corner following a well drilled lineout and drive, 17-6. 2 minutes later the other Winger James Wise finished off a counter attack with a 40m run in to the corner, 22-6. The attacking backs play had cost Dolphins dearly as Fly Half Eddie Lewis left the field. Dolphins adjusted and another attack saw Eastliegh lose their 9 to a Yellow Card for a high tackle. It took the adjusted back line 12 minutes to overcome errors before Robbie Hume was in for his second, 27-6. The experience front brow of Morgan, Boa and Yesilmen was dominating the scrums making life hard for Eastleigh. Then their day got worse as their outside centre was sent from the field with a Red Card for a high Tackle that made direct contact with the head. Dolphins immediately exploited their advantage and Alfie Wainscoat cut a great line to cross under the posts, conversion good, 34-6 and the half came to an end.
A player down and 28 points behind, many sides would have crumbled; not the Pirates. Penalties and errors by the Dolphins kept turning the ball over and giving up territory. Massive defensive phases kept Eastleigh out but the pressure finally told and quick tap penalties saw them score and convert, 34-13. Dolphins immediately responded and a backs move initaited by Harry Rabjohn, now at Fly Half, saw the new centre combination of North and Blackburn, bolstered by Wise to put the winger Joel MacFarlane in in the corner, 39-13. Again Eastleigh battled towards the Dolphins line but were turned over only 2 metres from the line and fast hands put James Wise on to run it in from only 3 metres from his own try line, 46-13. Jacob Ashworth replaced Sam Vince and began tearing up the park, but an error saw Eastleigh camped on the Dolphins try line and at a break down they conceded a penalty that saw prop Armand Morgan Yellow Carded. Pack leader Kelton New went into the Front Row and the 7 man pack still dominated the Pirates. However, a penalty saw them kick to the corner and from the lineout score their second try, 46-20. Then having cleared their 22 Eastleigh made the most of a error in defence and scored again, 46-27. Their hackles were up now and they saw the chance of grabbing a point from the game. Dolphins weren't having that and they attacked the restart winning a penalty about 15 metres out, they opted for a scrum and No. 8 Harrison Chalk picked up of the base and ran in the try untouched by Eastleigh's defence, 53-27 final whistle.
Centre Joshua Blackburn was Man of the Match in Eastleigh's eyes.
A dominant, but far from perfect game for the Dolphins. Areas to improve and work on but the job was done. Top of the table 2 wins from 2 games and 41 points difference advantage over second placed Sandown & Shanklin.