The Dolphins took on National league club Sutton and Epsom in what is the battle for 4th place. With the top 3 way out in front, both teams are looking to top the ;league within a league'.

With the Surrey club conceding the corresponding fixture earlier in the year, this was the first meeting between them. Going in to the game, both team were level on points, but S&E have a slightly better points difference.

Conditions for the game were cold to say the least, there was a light dusting of snow to great the teams, but the heat of battle soon warmed them up.

It was the away side who started the brighter, being camped in the S&E half for 15-20 minutes, but a knock on, forward pass or unforced error kept the scores at 0-0. With their first attack, S&E countered a Dolphins mistake for their first score. This sparked the home team to life and their game plan of hitting their big runners in to the Havant defence. Following numerous indiscretions, S&E worked their way up and secured their second try from a lineout and drive, this time converted. Havant went into half time not knowing how the scores were not the other way round having had most of the possession and territory.

HT - 12 - 00

The second half started in a similar way to the first, but with this time the Hav runners were marshalled into different areas. The S&E defence failed to deal with this new threat and Jack Ward-Golden took advantage to cross the line for the visitors first try. It was then the S&E attack that produced the next try capitalising on more Havant mistake to take them further in the lead and chasing a bonus point. 19-7 (60 mins)
Knowing it was now or never Hav get themselves into the opposition half again, and again were camped there just unable to score. With the Hav scrum becoming dominant, this became a concern for the home side. After a scrum under pressure, centre nick Benjamin charged down a clearance kick on the S&E line and quick reactions from Jake Reynolds saw him touchdown, which he converted himself. Havant smelt blood and we soon in the S&E half again. After destroying the S&E scrum time and time again, the home side's prop suddenly gained an injury meaning uncontested scrums. this stopped what would have certainly been a penalty try. But just a few phases later, Fly Half Pete Living found Will Owen running a fantastic line and a clever pass put him under the posts. Jake Reynolds added the extras and it was all square with 5 minutes to go, and only one team in it. Following a penalty to Havant, about 25m out and 15m in from the touchline, Hav opted for the kick to win the game. Unfortunately Reynolds pulled it just wide. It seemed like this was the last chance, but from the following drop out, the ball found Nick Benjamin in space, and sprinted 50m for the line. As he was about to dive in, in the corner, the S&E full back made a great try saving tackle, and that was full time.

FT 19-19

It was a tight game but Havant will know they should have won. That said, the fightback in the second half showed great spirit and class against a decent, heavyweight side.

Havant stay level on points but still 5th on points difference to S&E, but do have a game in hand over them. Therefore, in the quest for 4th place, this was not a bad result with S&E still to play league leaders Worthing and Havant having 2 or the bottom 3.

The next game will now be Dorking at home on 7th April.

#upthehill