HRFC   24   ROSSLYN PARK FC   13

Billed as a ‘must win’ in their National 3 South survival battle, the result certainly eased the tension at Hooks Lane.  Scoring four tries with only one in reply, it was a performance that, if it can be maintained during the second half of the season, should ensure life in the same league next season. 

Hav were able to start with the same back line up for the second week running. In the forwards, availabilities were in Hav’s favour this week with Matt Morgan able to start in the engine room and Jon Barfoot in the back row. Ali Ramus was given a bench place alongside Big Al Davenport who had been injured the previous week and was being returned ‘cautiously’, enabling Rupert Grant to make a start up front.   

The visitors were quickly on to the attack, and aided by some ineffective Hav defending, looked like they had scored on the left. Returning a poor clearance kick, a jink through ‘flailing arms’ saw them make good ground into the home 22 from where quick passing out left saw them go over in the corner. Fortunately for Hav the final pass was given as forward.

Thanks to some good work by scrum half Grant Morris, Hav were then able to turn defence in their 22 into attack in Park’s. A good catch and drive was halted, but Hav were awarded a scrum and, although their push was halted, the ball was moved quickly out back and, following a neat interplay between fly half Pucs and wing Richard Buck, Buck was able to set No8 Harry Heasman free to go in on the right from 20 metres. to the right of the posts. A missed conversion left it at 5-0 on 11 minutes.

Park gradually took the initiative back, thanks to their pack, and they nearly closed the gap when fly half Richard Mahony just failed with a penalty in front of the posts. However their pressure was rewarded when they were soon back in the Hav 22, and moving the ball quickly out right, centre John Swords cut through to score on the right. This time Mahony made no mistake and it was 5-7 on 20.

It was then Hav’s turn to apply the pressure, and although it took a while for the next score to come, when it did it was worth waiting for. The move had a tentative start as wing Richard Adams struggled to find a hole as he ran across the midfield, however he found centre Neil McGovern who did find ‘the hole’ and after making quick progress into the 22 neatly offloaded to Harry Heasman who charged in for his second of the afternoon. Pucs converted, and Hav were back ahead at 12-7 on the half hour.

In yet another turn around in fortunes, it was the visitors who took charge of the rest of the half. The boot of Richard Mahony put them ahead as he stroked over two penalties to make it 12-13 at half time and everything to play for. The second penalty was awarded for a high tackle by Harry Heasman, whose eventful first half ended with him sitting ‘in the bin’.

The second half saw a change in Hav’s pack. ‘Big Al’ Davenport came on for Rupert Grant up front, and Ali Ramus came into the back row to take over from Steve Cruddas who moved up to hooker to replace an injured Tom Drewett. 5 minutes into the half Liam Davenport was brought on to replace Grant Morris at scrum half.

Although still only with fourteen at the restart, Hav were almost immediately ‘on the front foot’, and, with both backs and forwards linking well, they were soon able to engineer a move that enabled wing Richard Adams to go over on the left corner. No conversion made it 17-13 and the lead had changed hands yet again.

However, that was the last time. Now playing at full strength, and as well as they had played all season, Hav went further ahead thanks to a superb break from second row Matt Morgan who charged into the 22 and found wing Richard Buck in support who he set free to go in under the posts. An easy Pucs conversion made it 24-13 on 52.      

Although Hav were now two scores ahead, there was still half an hour to go, and Park had already shown sufficient competence to make the home crowd feel that things could still turn around again.

However, although Park did perhaps have most of the play in that final half hour, they weren’t able to really threaten the home line and 24-13 is how it stayed

Unsurprisingly, Hav’s Director of Rugby Simon Morgan was delighted with the outcome. “Although we certainly didn’t have it all our own way, we did take our chances well, and it was good to see both backs and forwards involved in the scoring. The next four games, three away and one at home to leaders Mounts Bay, are going to be tough, and although we are now capable of creating a surprise in each, we must keep our heads and hone our performance such that when we meet those teams around us in the table that are ‘must wins’ that’s what we achieve!”

Hav:

Steve Stapleton, Richard Buck, Neil McGovern, Sid Claffey, Richard Adams, Pucs Ngapaku, Grant Morris (Liam Davenport).

Stu Ingram (capt), Tom Drewett (Steve Cruddas), Rupert Grant (Al Davenport) Ollie North, Matt Morgan (Ben Morgan), Jon Barfoot, Steve Cruddas (Ali Ramus), Harry Heasman

Hav Scorers:

Tries: Harry Heasman (2), Richard Adams, Richard Buck  Cons: Pucs (2)

Rosslyn Park scores

Tries: 1 Con: 1 Pens: 2