Hav made the trip to the Middlesex side of Ealing determined to put points on the board after the last weeks, where they failed to score.
Hav for the third week running kept faith with the same back row, but the pack was revamped, with Andy Tart replacing the injured Tom Drewett as hooker. Perrie Durant started the match with Omeed Matini going to the subs bench. Jon Barfoot and Matt Morgan were unavailable, Harry Heasman returned from suspension together with Dylan Raubenheimer. Ali Ramus returned early from holiday and took up his position on the subs bench with Ben Morgan and Jamie Knowles.
From the Ealing kick off, Hav put the home team under pressure in their half, with the front rows battling for position together with lengthy referee lectures. Hav had the upper hand, resulting with the pack crossing the line from a catch and drive, only to have the try disallowed. Again Hav came back at Ealing for yet another catch and drive from a lineout, this time it was successful with Raubenheimer emerging from the bottom of the Hav pack. Pucs was unsuccessful with the conversion, 0-5 to Hav after 17 minutes.
Hav still applied the pressure on Ealing, but soon Ealing regrouped and were now encamped in Hav half. A bad defensive kick was picked up by a Hav player in an offside position resulting in an Ealing penalty in front of the post.
With the Ealing game now gaining momentum, Hav were guilty of professional foul play which resulted in Nick Whittle being yellow carded. Ealing kicked to touch and with a catch and drive for a try to Ealing with the conversion missed 8 - 5
The match was well into the first half injury time when Ealing were awarded a line out 5m from the Hav try line. They put a drive in and pushed Hav over for a try and again the conversion was not converted, 13 – 5 half time.
The 14 Hav men took the pressure from Ealing in the beginning of the second half, but after an easy scoring chance missed by Ealing, they scored their third try which was converted 20 – 5.
Hav made two changes to the pack with Ali Ramus and Ben Morgan coming on for Nick Whittle and Andy Tart, with Steve Cruddas going to hooker.
Hav won a scrum against the head in their half, which Pucs used to his advantage. Breaking the Ealing line he worked his way into the Ealing 22, with Bucks on his shoulder, lying the ball off to Bucks to score. Pucs converted the try 20 -12 after 65 minutes.
With Hav coming back into the game, Pucs kicked a penalty after a late tackle on him, 20 – 15. Hav were back into the game. This penalty was answered from the kick off with an Ealing try after some fine inter play between their three quarters, 25 – 12 to Ealing.
The match was well into injury time, when Ali Ramus made a break into the Ealing half. Pucs took up the challenge from Ramus; he laid the ball off to the ever supporting Harry Heasman, on to Liam Davenport and then to Bucks to score a fine try in the corner. Pucs missed the conversion with the last kick of the game, final score 25 – 20 and a bonus point for Hav.
With Hav playing well and dominating the Ealing pack in all departments, and the three tries for the first time this year resulting in a bonus point. Hav will need to build on this performance for the coming games, as this was a match they could have won. Hav remain 10th in the league on 22 points, just one point ahead of the ever improving North Walsham, all points gained now will be important at the end of the season.
Hav team: - Steve Stapleton, Richard Buck, Neil McGovern, Sid Claffey, Matt O’Shea, Pucs Ngapaku, Liam Davenport.
Stu Ingram, Andy Tart (Ben Morgan), Perrie Durant (Matni Omeed), Ollie North, Nick Whittle (Ali Ramus), Harry Heasman, Steve Cruddas, Dylan Raubenheimer
Hav Scorers:
Tries
Dylan Raubenheimer (16 mins), Richard Bucks (64 and 83 mins)
Conversions:
Pucs (64 min)
Penalty:
Pucs (70 mins)
Ealing scores
Tries: 3 David Essien, 1 Kene Ejikeme
Conversions
1 Ben Ward
Penalty:
1 Ben Ward