Havant…………….37pts Old Albanian…..29pts
THE first fixture between these two sides for 15 years was well worth the wait as a bumper crowd witnessed another classic game of rugby that resulted in Havant securing an important win.
Havant director of rugby Rob Matthews believes his side have shown they can compete with the best in National Two East, and hopes the newly-promoted team’s latest triumph can act as a springboard, with tough tests to come at Bury St Edmunds and then at home to Henley in their next two outings.
Matthews said: “We’ve been building and been very close to big results but just haven’t been able to get over the line.
“At 29-10, we looked in control but allowed them back into the game. I was proud of how we saw the game out.
“In our first seven games we’ve proven we can compete, with silly mistakes sometimes being our downfall.
“All sides are a step up from level 5, and OA’s proved that today by punishing our mistakes.
“Their full-back Alex Noot scored an incredible try, sidestepping through our entire defence, that’ll definitely make the highlight reels.”
Old Albanian got off Havant were level after 22 minutes when Joel Knight scored under the posts and converted.
The hosts went further in front when Tam Lindsay was on the end of a rolling maul, the conversion was missed. Old Albanian drew closer with a penalty in front of the posts after another infringement in a ruck.
Havant had the last word in the half when Dylan Lawley scored from close range, Joel Knight converting.
Early second-half pressure helped Havant extend the lead with a penalty from Joel Knight after good work from the pack, before they added to their tally with another try from Lawley which was an almost a carbon copy of his first one. The conversion by Joel Knight put them in a commanding lead at 29-10.
But with all games at this level, if you switch off you get punished, with the visitors scoring three tries in ten minutes.
The first was an old school try by Noot converted by Sam Jones followed by the worldly try from full-back Noot, although this time the conversion was missed.
The final try for Old Albanian was another backs effort scored by Declan Murphy, converted Sam Jones.
But a good move from Havant’s backline saw
Jack Philips score in the corner with the conversion missed.
The final score of the game was another Joel Knight penalty to settle the outcome.
REFEREE: Alex Rose ATTENDANCE: 756
Star player Joel Knight -Havant
TEAMS
HAVANT: Edson, Rudder, Joel Knight, Jacob Knight, Phillips, Lewis, Holt, Read, Vince, Withheld, Young, Parkins, Smith, Boa, Lindsay Replacements: Morgan, Shpylka, Cleeve, Dugan, Griffin OLD ALBANIANS: Noot, Mancey, Jones, Munnelly, Ricci, Thomas, Murphy, Merrett, Ponsford, Verley, Gibbs, Kingswell-Watts, Samuel, Fleckney, Holland Replacements: Bond, Harry, Harris, Omole, Jackson the mark very quickly as Havant slipped off tackles, for Alex Omole to score, converted by Sam Jones.
