CANTERBURY RFC   17   HAVANT  RFC   15

National 3 South

Considering relative league fortunes, that Havant were still weakened by injuries, and that Canterbury had already beaten them at Hooks Lane in September, a bonus point for Havant was better than travelling expectation. However, with a gutsy all round performance, Havant went ‘oh so close’ to what would have been a well deserved win, having it snatched from them with the final move of the game  

With no ‘healthy’ ones available, Havant were forced to field two injured props, and with Ali Ramus and Harry Heasman unable to play having been selected earlier in the week, the Havant pack was far from full strength. Out back Matt O’Shea recovered from injury replaced the unavailable Richard Buck on the wing.

Playing down a slope with a breeze behind them, Havant looked in determined mood from the outset, exemplified by a Matt O’Shea’s great catch from a Pucs ‘up-and-under’, that helped Havant move down into the home 22. Continued Havant pressure was rewarded after 7 minutes, when Pucs Ngapaku converted a penalty from just outside the 22 to make it 3-0 to the visitors.

It took the home side over 10 minutes to get the ball into the Havant 22, but Havant were able to clear easily, and for the next 15 minutes or so the sides cancelled each other out in mid field. The next incursion into a 22 came from the visitors, and it resulted in their second score! Winning a mid field penalty, touch was made on the 22 on the left. The catch and drive into the 22 was halted, but with Havant being awarded a scrum. From the heel the ball was picked up and driven forward, but when halted, it was delivered quickly out right where centre Neil McGovern saw a gap and ran through to score right of the posts. Sid Claffey ‘added the extras’ and Havant were 10-0 ahead on 27 minutes, no more than they deserved.

For a further 10 minutes, it was Havant with the initiative, but the home defence held firm and then, against the run of play Canterbury at last got themselves back into the game. It started in a somewhat dubious fashion. A speculative kick ahead into the Havant 22 that didn’t look a real danger was ‘kneed’ forward, and the ‘less than effective’ officials of the day saw it as a ‘knock on’, and suddenly Havant, for the first time in the match, were in real danger with Canterbury awarded a scrum 5 metres out. Winning the scrum they picked up from the back and the No 8 went over. A good conversion made it 10-7 on 37.

Stoppages for injury had been a feature of the half, which meant there were still 8 minutes to play and it was Canterbury who at last started to look like the higher placed side as they forced Havant on the back foot. However their only serious attempt to ‘trouble the scorer’ failed as an attempted penalty kick for goal from 30 metres missed, which brought the half time whistle.

Having played with the advantages of slope and breeze, 10-7 didn’t look like it would be anything like enough against a side that would surely now get its act together, particularly with Havant playing with one or two walking wounded.

It looked ominous for Havant when from the restart they were forced to defend in their 22, and it wasn’t long before they gave away a penalty that was converted to enable Canterbury to draw level at 10-10 on 7 minutes. The doughty band of Havant supporters were now anticipating a damage limitation exercise. ‘O ye of little faith’! Playing with some real determination, and minimising their error rate, Havant took the game up the slope, with Matt Morgan in the vanguard, and the home side was visibly rattled. Their open side flanker incurred ‘the wrath’ of the referee and was given a ten minute rest. The resultant penalty saw Havant attempt a drive for the line, but they were held up. They again drove forward from the scrum, but this time although they were halted, they won a free kick. Taking it quickly, Matt Morgan charged over on the right and Havant were ahead at 15-10 on 54 minutes with Sid just missing the kick.

It continued to be all Havant as they kept the home side on the defence. On 61 minutes there was what turned out to be a critical decision point. Havant were awarded penalty on the 22. Rather than take the three points they kicked for the catch drive option. It didn’t come off, and Canterbury were able to clear. The home side made several attempts to run at the Havant defence, but through some good luck, as well as good management, they held out and were soon back on the attack. Again appearing rattled, Canterbury were reduced to 14 when a second row was yellow carded. There were now 5 minutes to go plus a few minutes injury time and a momentous victory was on the cards. Havant looked secure until the game went into injury time and for the first time in the half the home side started to really threaten the Havant line. Awarded a penalty they made ground into the Havant 22, and moving the ball out right it looked as though they had broken through. However, the defence held and it looked like the danger had been averted when Havant were awarded a scrum. However Canterbury were awarded two penalties in quick succession, the second causing Havant’s flanker Tommy Horn to get ‘the early bath’. With Havant’s defence now at sixes and sevens, the second penalty was taken quickly enabling Canterbury’s inside centre to dash through and score, under the posts! The easy conversion made it 15-17 and the final whistle went to create a result that was much better than had been expected before the game, but no way did justice to the balance of play during it.

On hearing of the result and the performance, Havant’s Director of Rugby, Simon Morgan, away on London Division coaching duty, was full of praise for his team. “To outplay the home side who are up there at 4^th in the table, and considering our injury toll at the moment, gives me a good feeling that we will do much better in the second half of the season and will not only make our ‘must wins’ but will give out some ‘surprises’.

Havant:

Steve Stapleton, Richard Adams, Neil McGovern, Sid Claffey, Matt O’Shea, Pucs Ngapaku, Grant Morris (Liam Davenport).

Stu Ingram (capt), Steve Cruddas, Al Davenport (Omeed Matini) Ollie North, Ben Morgan, Tommy Horn, Jon Barfoot, Matt Morgan

Reps not used:

Peter Whelan, Dickie Dukes

Havant Scorers:

Tries: Neil McGovern, Matt Morgan   Cons: Sid Claffey 1  Pens: Pucs Ngapaku

Canterbury scores

Tries: 2  Cons: 2 Pens: 1