In a match which, after fifty minutes, Havant looked likely to be on the end of a thrashing, they scored three tries in the last 30 minutes to secure themselves a bonus point. Wes Dugan and Dylan Read led the fightback after a disappointing first ‘50’ in which poor tackling, defensive ‘offence’ and game management allowed a not particularly strong Westcombe Park side (who had many players missing) to dominate when Havant should have been making the most of a strong wind.

Havant made several changes from the side that lost in the last few minutes at home to Sevenoaks. Colin Sisk, injured in that match, was replaced by Ben Holt at scrum half after his own injury had kept him out of action since last season. Jez Smith, at prop, was fit again and replaced Ash Chirima who moved to the bench. Dylan Evans came in for Sam Trodd (hamstring), like Colin Sisk also injured against Sevenoaks. Tom Gwyther replaced Ben Griffin, another Sevenoaks casualty, at full back and Jacob Ashworth kept his place in the side after coming on as a replacement the previous week, with Wes Dugan moving to the bench to cover the backrow and scrum-half positions. Westcombe Park showed eight changes from the starting side that had lost by seven to Canterbury last Saturday.

The match started with Storm Amy and her sisters creating what appeared to be four different weather systems depending on which part of the ground you stood. Havant kicked off with a strong wind in their favour. On two minutes ‘Combe had made their way to the Havant line and seemed certain to score but for an excellent turnover from Joel Knight. A minute later Sean Shepherd was given a 10-minute rest after a ‘deliberate’ knock-on with ‘Combe still close to the line. The excellent scrum-half Mikel Davies went over close to the posts, with fly-half Max Brown converting to make it 7-0 to the hosts after 3’.

On 5’ minutes a high tackle gave ‘Combe a penalty from which they set up position to allow Mikel Davies to score once again, with the try converted on 7’. Havant weren’t helped by Ben Holt having to leave the field in his first game back after injury, with Wes Dugan coming on in his old position of scrum half.

Havant had barely seen the ball for the first 10 minutes but a penalty won close to their own ‘22 gave Reuben Knight the opportunity to put in a terrific kick to the ‘Combe 5m line. The line-out was lost but Havant did manage to retain field position and the ball for the first time. A good chip through came to nothing and a couple of penalties offered hope but lost lineouts were becoming a feature, not helped by the wind.

Sean Shepherd returned to the pitch and Havant had more promising field position (now at 17’) but a penalty for crossing allowed ‘Combe an escape. While Westcombe Park were looking a limited side, Havant were doing their best to mess-up their own possession, playing with little structure and direction. Eventually however, a good 50/22 from Joel Knight gave Havant an attacking lineout. An intercepted pass relived pressure for ‘Combe but Havant still had possession with a lineout 35m out.

Moments later a solid Havant scrum allowed Jacob Knight to put up a high ball, swirling in the wind, which the ‘Combe full-back dropped. The ball was recovered by Dylan Read who passed to Jacob Knight who chipped through for Dylan Read again to take the ball and put Will Perry in on the right. Joel Knight converted to make in 14-7 on 30’. Four minutes later Westcombe Park kicked a penalty through Max Brown. ‘Combe hadn’t had that much ball over the previous ten minutes but were more direct when they did have it, giving Havant a pointer as to how they should play the second half.

With three minutes left ‘Combe were camped near Havant’s tryline on the left after a good movement involving forwards and backs that had got them there. Havant got lucky when they dropped the ball in the act of scoring but were also starting to get on the wrong side of the referee. ‘Combe moved the ball right and Dylan Evans was given a yellow card for what appeared to be another deliberate knock-on (the referee’s signals were often either late or unclear, perhaps unnerved by the RFU assessor on the touchline). The hosts chose this moment to introduce one of the biggest prop forwards ever seen at this level who proved to be not particularly mobile but who needed three players to bring him down when he decided to move.

On the verge of half-time ‘Combe scored from 5 metres out on the right through replacement Namil Khalil which was converted to make it 24-7 at half-time, with Havant needing to take full advantage of the wind in the second half if they were going to get back in the match. The main priorities were to stop standing off tackles - Westcombe Park players were being given an extra half-second to decide what to do with the ball - and to manage the game better in the windy conditions..

The second-half kicked off and several Havant mistakes allowed ‘Combe to settle in the ’22 but a dominant scrum effort, led by Jez Smith, provided temporary relief for Havant. Intelligent play by the hosts, using the wind well, gave them a 50/22 and great field position. From the lineout they moved the ball through the backs and wing Thomas Burman went in under the posts with Max Brown once again converting. The score now 31-7 on 47’ and Havant now threatened with a big defeat by a dominant ‘Combe side who frankly, weren’t having to do that much to win it.

Two minutes later Havant worked their way up the field to the host’s ’22 from where Havant won a penalty. Wes Dugan, who had a good game, tapped the ball quickly and threw it out to Dylan Evans who scored on the left on 52’. The conversion was missed. Westcombe Park, although having plenty of ball were giving penalties away themselves and Wes Dugan was exploiting opportunities to run directly at the opposition with kicking not really an option in the conditions (Havant, as a reminder, now playing into a strong wind).

Good play from Havant with good driving from Dylan Read - who continued to excel - and Dylan Evans forced ‘Combe to concede position and a yellow card to their full-back Andrew Henderson on 54’. A good break by Joel Knight led to excellent position on the ‘Combe 5m line but then disaster struck with a pass intercepted wide on Havant’s right by scrum-half Mikel Davies who ran the length of the field and scored for his hat-trick on 57’. The try was converted by Max Brown. This killed off any hope of a Havant comeback although a more direct ‘pick-and-go’ Havant effort was starting to bring rewards.

Havant were now playing well and with an aggressive effort we hadn’t seen before. ‘Combe conceded another yellow card and Dylan Read made an excellent break and passed but a spurned overlap meant a scoring opportunity lost. A few moments later Tom Gwyther made it to the ’22 and passed to replacement James Wise who cut back inside on the left to score on 65’ making it 17-38 and with Havant now dominating possession. The game was gone but a possible try bonus point was now a possibility.

While ‘Combe were perhaps dropping off a little, given that victory was all but certain, Havant’s more direct approach was causing big problems for a now uncertain defence. Another yellow card to the home side with one minute left (their third) came from more Havant pressure. Good play through backs and forwards led to a score on the right for Will Saunders who had come more into the game as it developed. Havant’s changed approach epitomised by veteran Wes Dugan and Dylan Read (such a natural footballer) had been rewarded. Joel Knight’s conversion went over, the final play of the match. (Doug Miller)