Season Review

How did we do it? Below is an attempt to describe one of Hav's best seasons for a number of years

After finishing as runners up in London 1 the previous season, new captain, Joe Duffett, took over a side where there was perhaps more hope than expectation, at the beginning of the 2001-02 season, that we would go one better and win promotion from London 1.

Three key players from the previous campaign were not available for one reason or another. Steve Boydell (2000-01 FPA player of the year) had suffered a long term injury in the Hants Cup Final and was likely to be out for several months, Matt Kell was taking a year off to do a world tour and Nick French had emigrated to Australia; although some early good news was the return of Sid Claffey and Denville Elleston from Basingstoke. The league looked even stronger than last year; rumour had it that Norwich and Staines had significantly strengthened their squads; Basingstoke weren't going to take demotion from the National League lightly; and promoted London Nigerian and Haywards Heath looked like they were 'going places'.

Captain Joe Duffett led from the front and played in every league game

To f'urrow the brows' even more, our performances in our first two competitive games, the first two rounds of the RFU Knockout Cup, were far from convincing. We made heavy weather of beating Wimbledon, from London 2 South, at home, 29-14, and were then given the run-around, again at Hooks Lane, by London 1 new boys London Nigerian and lost 13-39.

However, the London 1 campaign started with a good win against local rivals Winchester 21-3, and it was at this point Chairman of Rugby, Adam King, started waving his 'magic wand', and some key new players arrived to strengthen the squad. Anton Petzer and Andy Short made their debuts in the next game, a convincing 48-3 home win over Sutton & Epsom that took us to the top of the table, a position we maintained right through to the end of the season! The fixture list had been good to us and our next two games were both at home. We won them both, but we weren't all that impressive. There was a 25-11 win over Cheshunt and a close encounter against Basingstoke, who just failed to convert their last minute try to leave us victors at 17-16. Sid Claffey was badly injured against Cheshunt and was to miss the next 7 league games. His kicking was badly missed! At this point it was played 4, won 4 and we were two points ahead of Norwich and Haywards Heath, both of whom had maximum points, but only played 3. Basingstoke were 4th, 1 point behind.

Then we had our first set back. It was at the least hospitable of our away trips, to the fancied London Nigerian. We contrived to have most of the possession and the territory, but gifted them a couple of breakaway tries to go down 13-18; but it showed that they weren't invincible. After a run-out at Hooks Lane, in our only 'friendly' of the season, against Maidenhead of South West 1, we 'ground out' two further victories, 18-7 at home against Staines and 16-9 away to Thanet. At the end of October we had played 7, won 6, and were 3 points clear of Basingstoke and Sutton & Epsom and 4 of Norwich, who had two games in hand. Thanks to 'Merlin' King, new boys Jon Barfoot, Paddy Conlon and Andy Tart, who were to play a significant part in the remainder of the season, had made their debuts.

'Merlin' King receiving the Dr Rutherford award from the Mighty Quinn at the end of the season.

The beginning of October saw one of the saddest days at the club for some years when HRFC 'legend', David Sparshatt, lost his courageous battle against cancer at the age of 56. He will be sadly missed.

During this period we won every game! It started with a 9 try massacre of Cambridge at Hooks Lane where the final score was 50-3, showing how much we were missing Sid's boot. A 24-12 away victory at Harlow, and a 14-7 home win against Haywards Heath, were not all that convincing, but 'winning when not playing well' was encouraging, and the promotion dream was beginning to feel achievable. The away trip to Norwich at the beginning of December was, perhaps, the defining moment of the season. A splendid 35-17 win took us 5 points clear at the top, at the half way point of the campaign. It was played 11, won 10, and, having played everyone once, we really began to feel that we could do it!

As we entered the final half dozen games of the season, although we were 6 points ahead, Basingstoke had emerged as a challenger for the top spot as they were now in second place and had a better run to the 'tape'.

The next game was 'Hav's' biggest of the season, away to Basingstoke, where a win would see us virtually certain of promotion, as we would be 8 points clear. A loss would see the margin reduce to 4 points and the onset of 'nerves'. 'Hav' had won their previous 11 league games on the trot, Basingstoke had won 7. On paper it was a 'clash of the titans' but, in front of a large crowd, many of whom were cheering 'Hav' on, our performance was disappointing, Basingstoke turning out convincing winners 8-25, and the gap narrowed to 4.

A 50-11 win at Southampton saw us through to the semi-final of the Hampshire Cup. The following week we survived some of the most atrocious conditions - both pitch and weather - to beat Cheshunt 25-15 at their place. (Everything else about Cheshunt was hospitable!) We then convincingly won the Cup Semi Final 50-6 at Hooks Lane against the 'heavies' from Andover, setting up a repeat of last year's final, a home game against Basingstoke. Back in the league, after an early fright, we managed to overcome Winchester 32-16 at Hooks Lane to maintain the 4pt lead; but our three remaining games were all against teams playing well in the league, and two of them were away. Basingstoke's last three games were against three of the bottom four teams in the league. It was at Sutton & Epsom that we found that 'the gods' were on our side! We had been incurring injuries to one or two key players and a weakened side couldn't quite hold out against S&E and we lost 9-16. However Basingstoke, on a run of 10 wins, went to already relegated bottom club, Cambridge, and lost; perhaps the most amazing league result of the season.

Although all minds were focused on promotion, there was the little matter of the Hampshire Cup Final against Basingstoke to overcome. More injuries had been sustained at S&E, and so a very much weakened side faced a full strength Basingstoke at Hooks Lane. We had anticipated a damage limitation exercise, but the side turned on a good show and only just lost 15-16, and, against the odds, could have won it!

Although 'in the driving seat' for the automatic promotion place at the top of London 1, we still had work to do. If we were to lose our last two games, and Basingstoke were to win theirs with large points differences, then we could be overtaken. No-one was quite sure what to expect when Norwich overcame their fear of travelling and made the journey to Hooks Lane on 6 April. What wasn't expected was that 'Hav' should completely outplay a team that was 4th in the league and turn in a magnificent 65-3 win that secured the automatic promotion and a return to National Division 3 South after three seasons in London 1.

The team that beat Norwich to secure promotion including 'young' Pete Whittle.

The last game of the season at Haywards Heath was something of an anti-climax. It would have been nice to go out on a high, but we lost our way at times, and let in the most points of the season as we lost 26-36.

Fighting back from a sequence of relegations, without big-money backing, is unusual in the RFU leagues. High praise is due to all the players, coaches, and those running the club, that we have 'bucked the trend'. No-one is under any illusion that there is a lot of hard work to do during the close season to get us in the shape that is needed to hold our own in National 3 South, but there is a 'buzz' about the club again, and a united determination to succeed.

	Pl	W	D	L	F	A
London 1	22	18	0	4	579	239
RFU KO	2	1	0	1	42	53
Hants Cup	4	3	0	1	167	43
Friendly	1	1	0	0	38	22
TOTAL	29	23	0	6	826	357