Havant Women kicked off their league campaign in style with a hard-fought 27–22 victory over Henley Hawks, holding their nerve in a closely contested battle that showcased the team's resilience, attacking flair and determination.
Havant started brightly and were rewarded early when Phoebe crossed for the opening try. Although the conversion drifted wide, the score gave the hosts confidence and they continued to apply pressure. Beth was next to get on the scoresheet, finishing off a strong attacking move to extend Havant's advantage.
Henley Hawks responded well and demonstrated why they would be tough opposition throughout the afternoon. The visitors struck twice before the break, narrowing the gap and ensuring the sides remained locked in a competitive contest heading into half-time.
After the restart, Havant came out with renewed energy and Jay crashed over for the first score of the second half, restoring the momentum in the home side's favour. Henley again showed their determination, responding with another try to keep the game finely balanced.
With the pressure mounting, Havant produced one of their best attacking moments of the afternoon. Tash crossed the whitewash and, crucially, the conversion was added to give Havant some breathing space on the scoreboard. The bench then played an important role, with fresh legs helping Havant maintain intensity as a number of changes were made throughout the second half.
With the match entering its closing stages, Rhiannon crossed for Havant's fifth try of the afternoon, giving the hosts a valuable cushion. Henley refused to go away and struck again with a converted try, setting up a tense finish, but Havant's defence stood firm to see out the game and secure a deserved 27–22 victory.
It was an encouraging performance from Havant Women, with contributions across the squad and a strong team display setting a positive tone moving forward. Credit must also go to Henley Hawks for an excellent contest played in great spirit.
A special thank you also goes to the Havant Under 12 girls, who supported the team throughout the afternoon while acting as ball technicians. Their enthusiasm, energy and encouragement from the sidelines did not go unnoticed, and the squad certainly felt their support throughout the match. They are the future of Havant Women's rugby, and it was fantastic to see them so involved on game day. We hope they enjoyed being part of the experience as much as we enjoyed having them there.

Awards
Player of the Match: Beth Wilcox
Forward of the Match: Beth Wilcox
Back of the Match: Gracie Henson

Try Scorers
Phoebe Rabjohn
Beth Wilcox
Jay Sime
Natasha Bullock (Converted by Abi Pearson)
Rhiannon Powell