Havant Women fell to a 17–5 defeat against rivals Guildford Gazelles in a fiercely contested encounter, but there were still plenty of positives to take from a hard-fought performance.
The fixture added another chapter to what is quickly becoming a competitive rivalry between the two sides. Last season saw honours shared, with Guildford claiming a 37–10 victory on their home turf before Havant edged a thrilling return fixture at Hooks Lane 27–26. With those close battles still fresh in the memory, both teams knew they were in for a tough afternoon.
A special moment before kick-off saw Darcy Hawkins make her debut for Havant Women. Adding to the occasion, Darcy lined up on the flank alongside sister Gracie, with Darcy wearing the number 6 shirt and Gracie at 7 in a memorable family partnership on the flanks.
Guildford started strongly and made the most of their opportunities, building a lead through disciplined play and strong defence. Havant continued to battle and looked dangerous whenever they managed to generate quick ball, refusing to let the game drift away despite the scoreboard pressure.
The breakthrough eventually came through Beth Wilcox, who crossed for Havant's only try of the afternoon. Her score gave the home side renewed energy as they searched for a route back into the contest, but Guildford's defence held firm and prevented Havant from adding to their tally.
Despite the result, Havant showed plenty of commitment throughout the match, with the forwards working tirelessly around the park and the backs continuing to look for opportunities to attack. The squad will take valuable lessons from the encounter as they look ahead to the rest of the season.
Congratulations to Darcy Hawkins on making her Havant 1st team debut, and credit to Guildford Gazelles for another competitive and well-fought fixture. We look forward to welcoming them back to Hooks Lane later in the season for what promises to be another exciting contest between two closely matched teams.

Try Scorer
Beth Wilcox

Post-Match Awards
Forward of the Match: Laika Swain
Back of the Match: Gracie Henson