Very Tight

Havant 1st XV vs. Bracknell 1st XV – 16th October 2010

Report by Super Slave

Bracknell travelled to Havant for their scheduled London and SE National 3 League game with the weather being perfect for a good game of rugby. The game promised to be a full of excitement given the memory of the previous visit to Hooks Lane last year and the fact that both sides have not had the greatest start to the season this year. Havant lost their last game against Hertford the previous week after holding the mighty Hertford to a 17 – 15 lead at half time and given the words of their President Harry Wilkinson (not Johnny’s Dad) before the game “we could have easy have been in front, then we went to sleep”. Familiar words!

None the less, Havant started off with a bang and were up 7 – 0 within the first 6 minutes due to some lacklustre tackling. Bracknell were back in the frame with a well taken penalty kick by Ben Nowak in the 9th minute. Repeated infringements around the base of the ruck by Bracknell then gave Havant a goalable penalty in the 13th minute to stretch their lead back to 7, scoreline now 10 – 3. Five minutes later Bracknell were again awarded a penalty after pressing hard on the Havant tryline which was duly converted by ace goalkicker Ben Nowak. (10-6). Bracknell continued to hammer away at Havant however in the process were giving away unnecessary penalties which had Havant’s kicker been in form the lead would have increased a lot more rapid than was on the board. Bracknell’s solid forward play was rewarded when Lock Kenny Barry went over for a try in the corner to edge Bracks into the lead for the first time in the game. Nowak being unsuccessful with the conversion attempt. (10 – 11).

However due to more dubious refereeing observations, the Havant number 8 was in-front of a “Gary Owen” but had it not been for Bracknell players again allowing the high ball to bounce he would not have scored. This just before half time took the scoreline to 15 – 11 and closed an error strewn first half.

At the start of the second half Bracknell came out firing and scored within 4 minutes with a neatly taken penalty by Ben Nowak due to Havant again being penalised for ruck infringements, this time with the sin binning of their number 10 for ten minutes. This brought the score to within 1 point (15 – 14). Bracknell’s tails were now up and three minutes later scrumhalf Cole was intent on scoring against his old club with a blindside attack (and some pace) with the conversion being missed by Nowak. A further 7 minutes later and after constant pressure on the Havant tryline Fly half Antonneli got on the scoresheet after some good hand skills between backs and forwards. This was converted by Ben Nowak to take the score to 15 – 26.

With Havant back to full strength they began to counter attack Bracknell and were rewarded with another try which was not converted, 20 – 26. Immediately after Havant continued to go on the attack and with 12 minutes remaining they managed to score in the corner which again was not converted. 25 – 26. From the kick off they again entered Bracknell half after a high up and under “open” opportunity to score was missed by two Bracknell players going offside with the tryline calling and no opposition in sight and which would have sealed the game. Instead Havant went on the attack and Bracknell managed to keep them out until the final whistle.

A win none the less but the mountain is high. Clearly a lot more work needs to be done but four points in the bag is better than none at this stage and hopefully what is learnt from each game is put to experience in the next.