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Havant III XV started off the season without their Captain, Justin Harrison, unavailable as a player due to the fracture of his left leg, which was sustained during the last game of the 2000/2001 season. Nevertheless, this promised to be a good season; what with the formation of the new Hampshire Merit and the inclusion of some new talent. Such as Mark Hayley & Jamie Moon etc not to mention old stalwarts from the last few seasons; Phil Hughes, James Hewitt, Johnny Nation & Gareth Owen, etc. |
Justin Harrison |
However, it did not start that way at all, with three league defeats on the trot, and the only win recorded was against a non-league side, Bognor IV. Not a good start!
One of the turning points was the home game against Romsey II. Trailing 0-19 at half-time, the team upped their game to a standard that the league demanded and were eventual winners 22-19. The team spirit was suddenly established and cemented all in one ‘fowl swoop’.
A buzz was now running through the side, with the following games going Havant’s way and only a slight glitch in the proceedings with a home tie against the second in the league, Sandown & Shanklin II. Havant went down 9-12 after a spirited first half performance, in the dying minutes of the game. A good win was then recorded at Gosport followed by a mauling of Fareham Heathens at Hooks Lane. This readied the side for an additional fixture away to Portsmouth II at Rugby Camp which ended with a cracking win in the last 10 minutes; it went Havant’s way to the tune of 22-15.
From a rather poor start to the season, this Havant III side has ended with a flourish and a buzz. After giving the Heathens a pasting 67-0, it was noticeable that some of the lower league teams gave us a side step with a walkover rather than take a beating. A strong end to this season in the newly formed Hampshire Merit League, finishing a creditable 4th. A far better idea of what will be required to win the league, and every expectation of doing so next season; the best is yet to come!
Finally the season was brought a sociable end, with the league away game against Sandown & Shanklin II being treated as a mini-tour and the squad stayed the evening on the IOW. A storming first half-game eventually guaranteed revenge for their previous home defeat. Havant running out then eventual winners 22-5 and that was despite losing some key players with injuries. The tour allowed the squad to further cement relationships and enjoy a social evening together. Some of the stories of the evening cannot be told here however, there is photographic evidence.
Click Here for a link to the Hampshire Merit Table 1
Click Here for a link to the detailed matches record
III XV Playing Record
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Pl |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
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29 |
18 |
0 |
11 |
640 |
434 |