21 January 2003 - After the Rosslyn Park Match - The Reverend's first sermon.

Dear Hooks Lane,

How admirable they were to watch and how humble in victory. I read the RP website this morning and was satisfied with their view that: "Havant gave us more trouble than most in this league." By comparison it is somewhat disappointing that the scribbler of "In at the Corner" never seems to afford us any credit for our valiant efforts. Still, we come off second best again. Park certainly are the benchmark against which standards in our league are set and on current form (after beating Esher in the cup) I would suggest the league above. The question is are we to aspire to that level? If you had been in the changing room after the game you would have recognised the tangible feeling of what can only be described as 'relief'; such was the impression of superiority, both physically and structurally that Park left on the brave few that dared to stop them.

We are certainly a young and light team and our experiences in this league reflect something of what student Rugby can be like. At Loughborough we frequently found ourselves confronted by the superior power of Premiership and Div 1 opponents throughout our fixture list. In the face of such physical peril was bred an individual resilience and collective defensive steel. By the end of an abrasive fixture list, unseasoned boys had turned into war hardened men. However, this was only realised because the singularly most important factor, the alchemy of 'steadfast determination' to improve, was firmly rooted in the psyche of every member of the club. This in itself was a product of the sheer competition for places in a Uni that only had one team worth playing for. Without regular games of this calibre, Hav will struggle to turn around the inconsistent efforts of boys into the achievements of men. Having scrutinised the game on Saturday I also feel that an unhealthy few do not currently posses the desire shown by Some exemplary members of our brave few, of which I consider Steve Cruddas, Neil McGovern and Liam Davenport to be 'hitting the straps' the hardest. I will from this point forward rescind all vitriol previously spewed over our phlegmatic ex-fly half. In Mr.Claffey we have discovered an inside-centre of excellence. His commitment on Saturday was Herculean, marshalling the defence and running some tight lines in attack. Never once did he lose his way and shy from the breach. With his lead, his cohorts to the left and right performed their defensive role as one would expect the back-row to have done. Unfortunately the back-row were covering the duty of the front row who seemed to spend the game utterly outclassed, chasing the considerably more svelte shadows of their opposite numbers.

The only direction worth travelling in is forwards. 

4 February 2003 - After the away match at Blackheath (and the return of Steve Jack)

Thank the God of Kiwi heaven that Jacko came back into the front row berth against The Club like a man to the manor born. He hoovers up the ground and gets his technical responsabilities right without fail. I'll still stand by my comment that our other members of the propping establishment need to seriously look at their waistlines - I daren't say feet as they probably haven't seen them for a good while - In games like we saw last Saturday, victory goes to the last team standing, 15 men throwing their bodies into the breach bla, bla, bla. The out side backs need to know they can push wide with the assurance of the back-row covering their insides, the back-row need to know that they are covered by the front row etc From what I've seen, Messrs Barfoot et al are fighting a war on two fronts. Technical capabilities are a given in front row players these days. At this level we need our noble warriors to get around the field, carrying ball off 10 and guarding the power channels with the defensive zeal of bulldogs, not pot-bellied pigs!

10 February 2003 - On Strength in Depth

I see worthy cause for concern with the conjecture offered by our colleague the Clown, although I deem him a half wit for being so unnecessarily course with our beautiful language. Indeed strength in depth is a requirement of any successful squad, as is the need for self-effacing honesty with the harsh realities of National League Rugby. The very nature of the league is Darwinian "Survival of the Fittest" and from where I've been watching the selection of young blood is totally justified! This is no criticism of the depth of our squad but an appraisal of their brimming talent. They're not boys anymore after all! Clown, we certainly could benefit from experienced reserves in key positions, but until you are prepared to put your hand in your pocket, let us assume that we have to develop and promote from within. Maybe, instead of adding your invaluably thrifty two penneth worth, you could instead put in a fully dressed appearance at Hook's lane and collect a 'few bob' by making an arse of yourself in public. I believe you would encounter no difficulty in raising the required finances, given the ease at which you have made a mockery of your good self on this forum!

This sermon is over.

13 February 2003 - In response to an article by "Fred Dagg" (shown below)

Fred you're right. Rather like my bowls lawn, where occasionally even the straightest running bowl will veer off its course and drift downwards in the direction of the stream at the bottom of my Parish garden; Havant's fortunes seem not to have had the fairest run of the green either. Although the results have been despairingly close, leaving nobody in doubt as to our ability at this level - we all too often seem to shoot ourselves in the foot by falling fowl of the man with the whistle. Now, I'm a believer - I believe that you make your own luck in life and with the big guy on your side you can't go wrong - it's the way of the universe after all. So looking into my humble font, We have 7 games left from which to take a minimum of 6 points - 19 league points seeming to be the threshold given the games left for the bottom 6 teams. On current league form we seem doomed, but when you consider our points differential, strike rate (3rd in league for tries per game average) and defence(7th in league for tries conceded per game average), we really have no place on the bottom. As Fred correctly states: "Its about the top 2 inches". We've got the aggression, desire and fitness, now we need to add the discipline and control to complete what we have started. Something is brooding in this brotherhood, a string of excellent performances threaten.....I certainly wouldn't want to be playing against Havant at this stage.

It is in the heart of darkness that our faith should burn its strongest. To win these 6 league points we must each go the extra inch, whether it be making a personal sacrifice for the team or giving that little bit extra at training. From experience its when all those dedicated extra inches are added up, that extra yards are created: the match winning try scored, the match saving tackle made.

Keep the faith. Life's battles go to the man who says he can.

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Replying to:

It's official we are the most unlucky team in the league. How the hell can you have the only positive points differential in the bottom half of the league and be second last - bad luck or did the luck get all used up last year?

The team has to pull together, its not as if you are getting a pounding every week! Just on the wrong side of the ledger...If bonus points were applied like in the higher divisions i.e. for being within seven points of the winning side or scoring 4 or more tries we would be mid table...in a position we should rightfully be...We are good enough for this league...just need to roll the sleeves up and put the graft - it's the top 2 inches - let's get ruthless Hav!!!. Hav have been pushed into the back of the corner now is the time to come out and start fighting for our lives... I do not want to see us playing London 1 again... the balls is squarely in our court...where are we going to hit it???? Lets all pull together, front up, support the club, players and officials and we WILL STAY UP...

FRED DAGG

19 February 2003 - Before the home game against Blackheath

Gracious apologies for the untimely arrival of my weekly sermon; Wednesday is upon us again and as we stand like Greyhounds in the slips awaiting the weekend's seminal encounter, I feel the need to reminisce of glories past - lest we should forget how rapturous they have felt. Remember how the knocks felt after London Nigerian, Norwich H & A, Pats, Colfs, Barking and Blackheath?? Like every one was a badge of honour, that's what!! I would at this juncture like to echo the proverbial brilliance of one member of our flock, the profoundly apt "Hav-A-Go Writer". Rather like Sir Paul McCartney's memorable "Paper Back Writer", we are equally appreciative of such worthy Confucianism as:
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"He who is down and wounded is the most dangerous of opponents." Have-A-Go Writer 2/18/03
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Indeed we are down. Indeed we are wounded. Indeed there may be many outside of our brotherhood who believe the bell has tolled for the brave men of Havant RFC in 2003. Such foolishness and lack of belief enrages me! Our critics are entitled to believe whatever their misguided senses tell them, because nobody at Hook's lane is throwing in the towel when there's a fighter with seven rounds of fury still left in the ring. Until that fighter gives up, all bets are off. Only WE have the power to decide where WE are going to go. WE are responsible for our destiny, and inch by inch WE are going to claw our way back into the light.

Amen. Take Heart. God bless

27 February 2003 - Before the away game at Rosslyn Park

The wild salmon does not give up, it leaps up waterfalls and fights its weight through the current. Against all odds it makes its journey.

17 March 2003 - After the Home game against Lidney

As I stare wistfully from my study window across the sun kissed Sussex plain, I cannot erase form my mind the replaying of Saturday's injury-time drop goal which effectively dealt the coup de grace to our National League autonomy. A cruel blow to a gallant beast that few will argue deserves such misfortune. With our survival now in the hands of equally ill-fated desperados in National League 2 and with our Banjo-strumming friends from Lydney unlikely to take the play-off spot; even I of indomitable faith am reluctantly forced to admit that the goose has finally been Cooked.

To quote the awe-inspiring Reverend John Kingston of the NEC Harlequins: "Life is unfair. Life Kicks you in the stones," and I couldn't put it better myself. From a man that held the helm of the mighty SeQuins as they slipped ignominiously into the obscurity of relegation last season (whilst suffering a life threatening brain haemorrhage in the midst of it all), Quins' survival this year can only be a moral epiphany to the sheer determination of the players and resolve of the coaching staff. They simply pulled together and put it right.

I have no time for remorse at HRFC. What is important now is the way that we carry ourselves forward into the final furlong. I only had to look at the tears in the eyes and body language of the 15 men who came off that field on Saturday to know that this is not the end for this Havant generation. There is great strength and courage here in a team that has put in some soul searching performances over the last 6 weeks. All minds should now be galvanised on winning the remaining few for sheer pride and the love of the game.

Rather than succumb to idle chat of "what could've been", lets acknowledge our position and set our eyes on the prize of rethinking, restructuring and on continuing our improvement so that come this time next year, we are set to hit the ground of National 3 running.

See you all Saturday.

31 March 2003 - After the away match at Tabard 

So much drudgery in the bleak wet, mud and fog of a winter season; all that is bright and wonderful about the game was displayed by our team in Saturday's encounter. We were focused in our appraisal of the conditions, disciplined in our approach and sharp in our execution. When in possession we played the game at a pace that the opposition could not live with; but what was most evident to the faithful who made the journey into Hertfordshire was the fierce pride taken by every man in the red, white and blue jersey. In refusing to take a backward step - even when the mettle was flying late into the second half, you grew in stature and convinced us that this team has special potential indeed. Use this as a foundation from which to advance and shine brightly next weekend in front of our faithful with an equally stirring display!!

Well done all.

11 April 2003 - Before the away game at Basingstoke

Dusting off my copy of Ecce Romana to find an apt verse for this week's call to arms, I was joyously vindicated in uncovering the translation of "Noli Illegitimi Carborundum". I council that in ancient Rome what roughly translates as: "Don't let the bastards get you down," conjured up an entirely different proposition, but with the outcome of our season culminating with Saturday's venture to Basingstoke, the definition is one and the same thing. We simply must not falter at this stage. I venture from my finite wisdom that our hunger for survival is stronger than their urge to banish us into oblivion. What we must be vigilant against is our own hunger turning us into beggars. We have played with considerable pride over the last fortnight and I urge every man in that starting line up to batten down the emotional hatches for the last encounter. Keep control, maintain your level gaze and keep your senses acute. Do not succumb to the occasion, the crowd or the chiding from the comedians in their ranks. Succeed in this and the last laugh will be yours.

Now care if you will to imagine poor old Caecillius, brave citizen of Pompeii, fighting off the dirty Roman bastards as they try to pull his toga off him in the baths......

No thanks.

PER ASPERA AD ASTRA

Viva HRFC

14 April 2003 - After the away game at Basingstoke.

It is with considerable pleasure that I recount the excellent deeds of the determined flock that took the field against our rivals 'Stoke on Saturday. Glorious it was indeed to see such a comprehensive thwacking, especially after having listened (somewhat cringingly) to the beer talking in the pre-match reception over how many points Basingstoke were going to rack up in condemning Havant to London 1. And boastful beer talk it remained!! Suffice to say the the run rate at one stage was so rapid that the fast track of Down Grange could well have been confused for the wicket of a completely different game!!

To the laymen on the sidelines Havant were outstandingly well organised and disciplined, playing the game at a pace that was simply too fast for Basingstoke to live with. Of their flock, only Steve Collins and the magnificent Selwyn St.Bernard were notable in a side that were outclassed in nearly every single facet of play. Countlessly shut down in the midfield by the gallant Cooper and Jones double act, Basingstoke had no room in which to operate, haplessly spilling ball and turning over possession at the mercy of the Havant back-row. Thank the Lord that poor ol' Stoke had the temerity to at least go down throwing a few sly right-handers to make the game a contest outside of the rugby lesson they were so handsomely dealt. All Havant players are worthy of mention for their deeds, particularly given the absence of four key stalwarts, who having played so sublimely in the final games, who had to be deputised for on Saturday due to injury. That kind of deficit usually destabilises a side in crucial games, so this achievement further piles glorious approbation on the shoulders of players that delivered a performance which was the best end to a season any avid supporter could hope for.

It is the greatest injustice of all that our fate is now in the lap of the Gods. Whatever should happen next is immaterial, with this level of pride and commitment there will be a restoration.

NULLUM SAECLUM MAGNIS INGENIIS CLAUSUM EST - To great talents no chapter is closed

28 April 2003 - After our fate was known!

Now the dealing's done, consider if you will the wise words of Kenny Rogers...

On a warm summer's evening on a train bound for nowhere
I met up with a gambler. We were both too tired to sleep.
So we took turns a starin' out the window at the darkness
‘till boredom overtook us and he began to speak.

He said, "Son, I've made a life out of readin' people's faces
and knowin' what their cards were by the way they held their eyes.
So if you don't mind my sayin' I can see you're out of aces;
for a taste of your whiskey I'll give you some advice."

So I handed him my bottle, and he drank down my last swallow.
Then he bummed a cigarette and asked me for a light.
And the night got deathly quiet and his face lost all expression.
Said, "If you're gonna play the game, boy, you gotta learn to play it right."

"You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em.
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
Ther'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done."

"Ev'ry gambler knows that the secret to survivin'
Is knowin' what to throw away and knowin' what to keep.
'Cause ev'ry hand's a winner, and ev'ry hand's a loser.
And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep."

And when he'd finished speakin' he turned back toward the window.
Crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep.
And somewhere in the darkness the gambler he broke even.
But in his final words I found an ace that I could keep.