The AXV travelled to Romsey for their first outing of the season on a day perfect for running rugby.......

With the retirement of some key players at the end of last season the squad was a blend of last season regulars, academy graduates and fresh faces to the club.

Hav kicked off with a high hanging kick with a great chase and pressure leading to a knock on from the Romsey second row. From the resulting scrum the ball was played through the hands with veteran utility back Matt Shaw scoring in the corner within the first few minutes (0-5)

This seemed to kick Romsey into life and the game became a battle between the 22s. Hav putting together some good phases led by 10 Will Brighton using the forwards and backs but being let down by the final pass or conceding a penalty at the ruck. Romsey kept running at Hav but the defence was strong and organized putting great pressure on Romsey.

The next score came from a Romsey scrum on the Havant 22, their 8 picked and went blind creating an overlap for their winger to touch down out wide (7-5)

Havant's lineout, being led by Greg Kies functioned well all day both in attack and defence. A lineout 5 metres out resulted in a traditional Hav driving maul with Tim Miller scoring at the back of the maul (7-10)

The next score came from a Romsey lineout on halfway. Disruption by the Hav jumpers led to an overthrow falling to Pete Kewn who carried into the Romsey half offloading to Jack WG, Jack WG ran in the try stepping the Romsey full-back to score just beside the posts (7-15)

Romsey hit back just before half time with a well worked backs move resulting in a try out on the wing (12-15)

HT - 12-15

Hav came out after the break without the same intensity and structure as the first half. Romsey capitalized on this scoring two quick trys through their pacey backs 19-15 then 24-15

After a brief discussion under the posts Hav came back playing simple but effective rugby. Hav built the phases, backs and forwards both putting in the hard yards working towards the Romsey line and Tim Miller with a powerful pick and drive from 2 metres outscored the 4th Hav try (24-22)

Following a period of further Hav pressure Pete Kewn got on the end of an offload and ran in under the posts from the Romsey 22 to score the bonus point try. (24-29)

The final 10 minutes consisted of Romsey throwing everything at Hav but they showed they had that Havant dog and knocked back each wave of attack until a knock on brought an end to a very physical but enjoyable encounter.

Considering this was the AXV's first game of the season with an influx of new players the team gelled well and showed great resilience and fight to come from behind and hold on for the win.

Jack W-G