A new year brings a new dawn, so a fresh 2023 start for AXV Captain Pete living, as he looks to right a couple of wrongs from the early part of the season. It’s been a mixed bag of fortunes for the usually dominant 3’s this term, promoted by two levels in the end of season RFU shake up, they just can’t seem to find the consistency of the previous 8 years or so. Arguably not expected to run away with title this year as they would normally do, as the battle against a string of 1st teams would understandably be a big mountain to climb. But defeats to local rivals Andover and Winchester would hurt, following so much recent success.
Consistency is always key and getting a strong side out week on week is crucial, and with Captain Living’s back bone of Mariners now coming towards there late 40’s the drinking and lunch culture is understandably more appealing to their old bones. But hopefully there is a changing of the guard, as the Jewett’s, Davies’s, Andrew’s, and Stapleton’, fade away a new batch of Mariners are on the horizon, to hopefully lead this exciting new batch of youngsters into the next era. With the likes of Morris, Cruddas, Bamford, Ward Golden and Morgan all coming of Mariners Age surely it wont be long before AXV dominance is back
So after selection and the usual midweek injuries and drop outs Living and King increased the value of Vodaphone shares once again as they took to the dog and bone to round up a team good enough to face another of the League’s 1st XV teams in the form of Fareham Heathans.
Resident scouser Peter Keown would start the selection process this week as he comes in at Prop. Concerns were raised early on in the dressing room and Havant Legend Steve Cruddas warned the team of a spate of car burglaries on his estate in the past week. Hercules Stanton-Moss as he likes to be known has taken over Jamie”flakey”Libby’s position it seems as the Mariners new vigilante as he sets out to protect the streets at night, so when Scouser Keown text to say he was running late due to traffic eyebrows were raised to his where abouts. Thankfully he made good time and started the game. Mark Lynch would come into Hooker as Wright/Longyear/Lynch continue their healthy battle for the Dolphins 2 shirt, and the front row was complete by Havant’s very own Kuma sutra Dave “DJ” King who seems to have more positions than the book itself. No wonder his beautiful wife Sam is always smiling.
The second row needed some bulk, with Godwin and Francis injured who better to turn to than the phenom that is The Big Man, The Man Mountain, The Big Daddy, Just eats Customer of the year 2022 and Body double to Patrick Star, Big Bruce Neal, as he lined up alongside Mr Chatterbox himself Louis Bristow to complete the front five. He’s not been about for long but there are already similarities between the former Gosport man and Jason Baldock. Debutant Lewis Roxby started his first game at Havant at 6, whilst the 267 1st XV cap club icon Steve Cruddas started on the open side flank Mick Bacon dusted of his boots after resting his old legs for 8 months and made a surprise return to No8
Then it just got dreamy in the backline, Wayne “cowboy” John played is first game in 4 years to start at scrum half , Captain Pete Living pulled the strings at 10, Navy stalwart Darren Bamford added supreme class to the midfield, Rob Ede moved into the centre to show his versatility and the Flying Scotsman Dean Duthie completed the quintet of Mariners in the backs , A bit of power and pace were added via Josh shaw and Will Gibson as arguably one of the deadliest back lines in recent months was assembled.
The finishers saw Archie Bradford make a welcome return after a long injury layoff, Kini Bavadra make his return from the southern hemisphere to get some game time , and the feisty young Josh Godwin complete the line-up.
Havant would receive the ball from Kick off , and got right to work within 4 minutes, the lightning Josh shaw cut inside , and Bamford took the extras from under the posts, Straight from a poor kick-off, Cruddas picked up the loose ball, and set newcomer Lewis Roxby on his way , as he made short work of the poor Heathan defence and added 5 more points under the post, Bamford again made short work and the tone for the game was set .3 minutes Later, the prolific Scotsman got his first catch out of the way to fill his confidence levels sky high and Bamford again and made it 21-0 to the home side. Mick Bacon was the next to get himself on the scoresheet, another great run from shaw , was moped up by the trailing Cowboy, who flicked the ball up into the path of the aging No 8 who managed to bounce his man and touch the ball down , Bamford this time could not convert as the wind blew But it was not long before the Captain had his share of the spoils, and made it 31 points on the half hour mark. Playmaker Bamford would have to leave the field after what looked to be a painful injury caused by the slippery surface, but the pace of Bavadra would be a sufficient replacement , he retired safely to the caring hands of his physio wife Sarah. Hopefully he wont be out for too long.
Duthie would go onto get his brace before a small resurgence from the travelling side, 2 lame tries were conceded as perhaps the home team had switched off a little too early. Josh Shaw would go over again before the break though and stop the rot that was starting to creep in and restore some of the lead
Half time 41-12
The second Half started as the first half did, Coach Rob Davey would hand out the antihistamines to Keown as he was suffering with his passing allergy, but Hav were straight into it with a quick try again after 2 minutes, Roxby was over again with a powerful run from 15m out, Gibson took over the kicking duties to add his first 2 points of the game. With Havant already dominating it was only minutes later Duthie would complete his dream hattrick after a great one, two, with his Rugby hero Mick Bacon, Gibson again was pinpoint and home side extended their lead further. The young legs of Godwin would then replace Bacon, Bradford came in for Lynch as Davey made the changes.
Fareham Heathan’s would get a consolation try before , the rout was complete, Gibson himself got on the score sheet with a great finish in the right hand corner but was unable to convert, Rob Ede added his 5 points with a weaving run to secure the try under the posts again to make it easy for Gibson, then the debut boy Roxby completed his hattrick and impressive performance right at the end to well and truly finish the North Gosport outfit off
Final score 72-17
Next week the AXV travel to Guernsey for a tough encounter with the league leaders, Availability will be key if Living is going to turn this season around and cause an upset , when the team is strong it as good as any, but the 3rd tier at Havant will always have to feed the Marching Havant beast before it.