Sat 18 Jan 2025
Portsmouth
28 – 34
(HT 17-10)
Havant II
Portsmouth RFC
Substitutes
Havant RFC
-
15RRory Penfold
-
14PPatrick Warriner
-
13CChristopher Buckett
-
12WWill Perry
-
11JJames Wise54′
-
10GGeorge Edson
-
9NNathan Evans
-
1AAlex Hankins
-
2TThomas Holloway
-
3SStephen Jenkinson
-
4JJoseph Nolan
-
5JJames Blackwell
-
6DDan Napier
-
7TTyrese Keita33′
-
8AArchie Carter-Humphries
Substitutes
-
16JJake Meek33′
-
17MMunashe Sakutukwa76′
-
18OOliver May54′
Kick-Off
-
6′
Try
RRory PenfoldA -
-
-
-
26′
Yellow Card
AAlex HankinsA -
33′
Substitution Off
TTyrese KeitaA -
33′
Substitution On
JJake MeekA -
36′
Try
SStephen JenkinsonA -
39′
Substitution Off
JJake MeekA -
39′
Substitution On
TTyrese KeitaA -
-
44′
Try
GGeorge EdsonA -
46′
Try
WWill PerryA -
54′
Substitution Off
JJames WiseA -
54′
Substitution On
OOliver MayA -
-
64′
Try
CChristopher BuckettA -
64′
Conversion
GGeorge EdsonA -
-
72′
Try
PPatrick WarrinerA -
76′
Substitution Off
TTyrese KeitaA -
76′
Substitution On
MMunashe SakutukwaA
Match Report
On a bitterly cold day at Rugby Camp, Havant kicked off and took the game straight back to Havant. Eventually a penalty against Havant gave Portsmouth the first scrum of the afternoon. and a kick upfield gave Havant the first line out. From that lineout they set up a good move and their winger scored in the corner with about 7 minutes gone. The conversion missed and they led 0-5. Following the restart Portsmouth stole a Havant lineout which resulted in a penalty to Portsmouth but Matt Pilbeam’s kick went wide.
Portsmouth were putting pressure on Havant and as they tried to move the ball upfield a wayward pass by Havant went straight into touch giving Portsmouth a lineout about 6 or 7 metres from the try line, A good catch and drive saw Portsmouth drive for the line and Liam Glazebrook broke off to score. Pilbeam’s kick was on target and the score was now 7-5 with about 12 minutes gone. A penalty against Portsmouth saw Havant kicking to touch but the kick was sliced and the ball went over the dead ball line.
Another penalty against Havant gave Portsmouth a chance to extend their lead and Matt Pilbeam duly obliged taking the score to 10-5 with about 20 minutes gone. A bad mistake from Portsmouth which saw a pass thrown to no-one which was kicked towards the try line by Havant and it was quick reaction from Pilbeam that saved the day although his kick to touch was badly sliced giving Havant a 5 metre lineout.
Good defence from Portsmouth saw them kick the ball upfield, giving Havant a lineout just inside the Portsmouth 22. A good run by prop Liam Glazebrook saw him take play into the Havant 22 before he was pushed into touch. From another Portsmouth scrum Will Dalziel made good ground before he was stopped just short of the try line. Another Portsmouth scrum saw them drive for the line and as they crossed the line the referee awarded the home side a penalty try for the deliberate collapse of the scrum. This took the score to 17-5 with about 30 minutes gone. Havant also had one of their props yellow carded.
Another Portsmouth attack came to nothing when the final pass was adjudged forward. As the first half drew to a close Havant set up an attack and they scored out wide making the score 17-10. Portsmouth were soon back on the attack and an excellent scrum from Portsmouth drove the Havant pack back about 7-10 metres. Portsmouth ended the first half in a very dominant mood with a very hard tackle by Sam Olie that saw the Havant centre knock the ball forward. The half time whistle went shortly after.
The second half started with Portsmouth making 3 changes. Gareth Davies came on at 10 with Matt Higgins coming of. Liam Avis came of for Phill Gilliland, making his first appearance this season, and Lee Chandler came on for Sam Floyd. Portsmouth were able to increase their lead by a further 3 points from a penalty by Gareth Davies, taking the score to 20-10 after about 47 minutes. Havant were soon on the attack and from a kick ahead by them the ball seemed covered by 2 Portsmouth players but and unkind bounce put it into the path of an upcoming Havant winger and he collected a fortuitous bounce which saw him touch down in the corner taking the score to 20-15. Alex Randall then had to come off so Matt Pilbeam went back on. Another Havant score saw the scores level at 20 apiece on 55 minutes. Beesley then had to come off so Liam Avis went back on and Fooks moved from hooker to No.8.
Following a scrum 5 metres from the Havant try line Portsmouth set up a good drive which saw Fooks dive over for a try. The conversion missed and they were back in the lead 25-20 on 65 minutes. This didn’t stay for long as Havant scored another converted try taking the score to 25-27. Portsmouth were still giving Havant a hard time in the set piece, driving them off their ball and seeing it come out at the feet of the Portsmouth No.8. A penalty against Havant saw Gareth Davies take a kick at goal and the ball went straight through the uprights giving the lead back to Portsmouth 28-27.
Portsmouth were then awarded a penalty in the dying minutes. The ball went wide and Havant broke out of their goal line and their winger raced through to score under the posts taking the final score to 28-34. Portsmouth were soon back on the attack but time was against them and eventually the final whistle went with a victory to the visitors. We did at least get a losing bonus point. Havant remain undefeated this season and you can see why, they never give up but then neither did this Portsmouth team who have probably just played their best game for a long, long time. This was especially pleasing as a few players were not available today as they were off skiing tomorrow, but it had has to be said they weren’t really missed.
It seems unfair to single out individuals in a game like this but second row debut maker Toby Wilson had an outstanding game, Fooks was everywhere and never stopped, Matt Pilbeam played well at full back apart from one badly sliced kick! Liam Avis was made MoM by the coaches. The pack as a whole gave Havant a very hard afternoon and the backs looked slick.
Scrum half George Wright got the ball away smartly throughout the game.
It also has to be said that this is Havant’s tightest victory so far this season. The hard fact to swallow is that this result sees Portsmouth slip down 1 place to 8th.in the League but that is sport for you. In the Club house after the game Havant named Fooks as their MoM. Portsmouth are now on 35 points with Sandown & Shanklin in 7th. on 37 points.
Next week there is no game for the 1st XV so they can rest their sore bodies after that Havant game in which Portsmouth for the most part were the better team.
TEAM
ANT FOOKS, BRAD ATKINS, LIAM AVIS
TOBY WILSON, BRYN RAINFORD
LIAM GLAZEBROOK, SAM FLOYD, AARON BEESLEY(C)
GEORGE WRIGHT, MATT HIGGINS
CONNOR CHARLTON, SAM OLIE, WILL DALZIEL, MATT PILBEAM
ALEX RANDALL
BENCH
PHILL GALLILAND, LEE CHANDLER, GARETH DAVIES