Havant made the trip to the Forest of Dean club with the hope of bringing some points back from second place Cinderford, only to lose 33 to 7, in a match that does reflect the play Havant had during the game, and due to 3 yellow cards played 50 minutes of the game with only 14 men.
Havant made some sweeping changes to the squad announced mid week, Neil McGovern, Tom Drewett, and Steve Cruddas who picked up injuries last week were replaced with Nick Whittle, Keith Molyneux and Andy Tart. The bench included some new faces with Rupert Grant, Giles Healey and Jamie Robinson and with Simon Cole returning from injury.
Havant kicked off, playing with the strong wind , but it was Cinderford who opened the scoring with a try in the 6th minute, after Havant lost the ball in their own 22 from a scrum, only for Cinderford to run the ball in with some slack Havant tackling, the conversion missed 5 – 0.
Havant took up the challenge with some fine forward play, they kept the pressure on the Cinderford pack. Sid Claffey tried a drop goal which narrowly missed. Havant were awarded a scrum for a knock on. Grant Morris spotting a gap, broke through the Cinderford line , he off loaded to Harry Heasman to score under the posts for a Havant try which Pucs converted 5 – 7 after 11 minutes.
Cinderford converted two penalties in the 17th and 24th minutes. Havant were giving away regular penalties during this first quarter of the game, due to the Cinderford pressure. This resulted in Stuart Ingram being yellow carded in the 31st minute for stamping. From the resulting penalty, Cinderford kicked to the corner, from the line out they drove Havant back for a try in the corner. Conversion missed 16 -7.
Nick Whittle was replaced by James Robinson, as a prop was required with Stu Ingram being off.
With the first half coming to an end, Havant were awarded another yellow card which resulted in Stu Ingram coming back on, as Dylan Raubenheimer took a 10 minute rest. From the penalty, Cinderford had the same game plan, kick to corner, and they drove Havant back for a try in the corner again, conversion missed 21 – 7 and half time.
Havant started the second half well, with their 14 men, the pack was controlling large passages of play, but they were unable to turn this into points. Then with Dylan returning, only for Havant to have Brad Mockford yellow carded, so again Havant were with only 14 men. Cinderford again took advantage from the resulting penalty, for the forwards to score a try which was not converted 26 -7 and 52 minutes of play gone.
Havant brought some fresh legs to the action, with Simon Cole and Giles Healey replacing Grant Morris and Sid Claffey.
Brad Mockford came back on from his enforced 10 minutes rest, which resulted in Havant’s best period of play. Havant dominated Cinderford and used the three quarters in some fine interplay, which was the most entertaining period of the game, but they could not turn this possession into points.
Harry Heasman was replaced by Rupert Grant due to a blood injury, and James Robinson replaced Karl Randle.
It was Cinderford who scored against the run of play after they turned over a Havant ball, to run in a try in the 76th minute which was converted 33 -7, and this being the final score.
The result leaves Havant in 12th place in the league. North Walsham beat Dings taking 5 points, thereby making the gap between us and them 5 points. Havant must take heart from this week’s performance, where they completed for the 80 minutes if only having 14 men for 50 of them.
Next week sees 10th placed Barking at Hook Lane, in another must win with bonus point’s fixture, if they can build on their Cinderford performance, it can be done.
Hav team: - Keith Molyneux, Matt O Shea, Richard Buck, Sid Claffey (Giles Healey), Pucs Ngapaku, Grant Morris (Simon Cole). Stu Ingram, Andy Tart, Karl Randle (James Robinson), Brad Mockford, Ollie North, Harry Heasman (Rupert Grant), Nick Whittle, Dylan Raubenheimer
Hav Scorers:
Tries: Harry Heasman
Conversions: Pucs
Cinderford Scorers: Tries: 5 no Conversions: 1 Penalty: 2