Last gasp try secures title
18 Apr 10 Havant Academy 35 v 39 Petersfield Colts (League)
What a way to finish the Colts season! This thoroughly entertaining game had everything: skill, pace, drama, controversy and a final denouement. With both teams committed to attack, referee Mike Gill made a massive contribution to the spectacle by letting the game flow whilst keeping firm control, and although Havant knew that they couldn’t finish better than third in the Colts league table, they weren’t going to let their rivals from up the A3 take the league title easily and secure bragging rights. Petersfield on the other hand knew that if they lost they would almost certainly hand the league title to Guildford who had a superior points difference.
Petersfield’s Colts have a habit of starting slowly, but not today. On their first possession ‘Field attacked down the right through full back Jonny Pryce and centre Joe Atkinson, who, first with pace then precision, put winger Ollie Stoodley in for the first try which was converted by “Alf” Garnett. Pryce had an inspired first half. He fielded every kick Havant sent his way and he counter-attacked with ball in hand at every opportunity, cutting swathes through Havant’s defence. On seven minutes ‘Field went 14-0 up when he caught a clearance kick, and weaving this way and that, cut through Havant’s defence, and then had the pace to outflank the cover defence on the left for an outstanding individual effort.
Havant regrouped, and started to use an effective rolling maul to tie in ‘Fields forwards before releasing their backs. However ‘Field’s defence held with second rows Michael Whelan and Tom Dear prominent, but then conceded two penalties which Havant duly converted.
‘Field knew that they had the edge over Havant out wide, and with scrum half Charlie Willans ’s swift pass, launched a series of attacks until eventually left wing Mark Tamba was put into space. He glided past his opposite number, and with a side step to dodge the last defender was over the line. A superb conversion from out wide followed by another penalty from the 10 metre line from Garnett, who kicked superbly all day, took the score to 24-6.
Havant weren’t giving up and their rolling maul was now giving the Penns Place side some problems. Also the home fly half, Joel Knight was beginning to make some breaks, which the visitors struggled to contain, and eventually after stepping one way, and then the other, he managed to break through and score under the posts, which he then converted.
‘Field came back from the kick-off, first through forwards Alex Pantry and then George Cook. Then following a barnstorming run by skipper Aaron Davies, he popped the ball to Tom Belcher who had built up such a head of steam that he looked sure to smash his way through the last defender and make the 30 metres to the try line, but the pass was judged forward.
Havant came back again, and a sustained series of drives nearly took them over the line in the corner, but the visitors held out eventually turning over the ball giving Willans the opportunity to clear to the half way line. Although Havant secured the line-out, ‘Fields rush defence caused the attackers to spill the ball in mid-field, and fly half Rushworth scooped up the ball to sent Tamba through for his second try, again converted by Garnett, to end the half 34-13 to the good.
Perhaps it was overconfidence, but the second half was dominated by Havant from the start. ‘Field’s scrum with Tom Belcher, Alex Pantry and later Toby Faulkner at prop, and Cameron Schmidt at hooker were solid throughout and even took a few against the head. The lineout was competitive, and forwards Aaron Davies, Larry Anderson, Rob Luff and Tom Dear consistently broke the gain line on their carries, and ‘Field often turned over Havant’s possession, but somehow each time ‘Field got possession they would make a mistake and knock on, pass forward, or offend at the breakdown giving Havant back possession. A telling statistic is that in the second half, ‘Field did not have one single put-in in to a scrum.
Havant meanwhile were more precise, their rolling maul was working well, and half backs Reynolds and Knight were directing play with authority, and gradually the Hooks Lane side clawed back the deficit. A converted try early in the half initially encouraged them, and then a second converted try brought the score to 27-34. ‘Field continued to play an expansive game, but carried on making mistakes, until eventually with fifteen minutes left Havant took a one point lead with a further try and a penalty.
The visitors refused to lie down and visibly raised themselves. Anderson, Schmidt and Joe Pigott made some promising breaks, but again a knock on or a forward pass brought the moves to a halt. With time running out Havant then started to kick into ‘Fields half daring ‘Field to attack from deep. As the visitors became more desperate they were running it from everywhere, even from their dead ball line giving their vocal supporters palpitations. Then with just 5 minutes remaining, came the controversial moment. Joe Atkinson found some space down the left wing and sprinted clear and with just the full back to beat passed inside to Tamba, who ran in towards the posts, and as he touched down a few seconds later the Havant touch judge then raised his flag to indicate that Atkinson had gone into touch. This was right under the noses of the away supporters who noisily indicated that Atkinson was a metre inside the touchline when he off-loaded to Tamba. However referee Gill had no option but to cancel the try and give Havant the throw in.
To have victory snatched away in this fashion would have disheartened many teams, but not this one. They threw everything at Havant, but Havant defended stoutly and repelled all attacks, and then came the denouement. Havant had possession just inside Petersfield half, and a ruck formed. With a mighty effort skipper Aaron Davies lifted and drove three of the opposition out of the ruck, and then they were penalised for diving on the ball in an effort to recover possession. Garnett heard there was just time for a final lineout, so he drilled the ball just inside Havant’s 22. Anderson safely won the lineout and Willans spun it out. Each thrust was repelled but ‘Field recycled, and continued to move the ball. Then on the fourth phase, Atkinson went blind, and with Stoodley and Rushworth in support first went through one tackle, then another with a hand-off, and dived nearly 10 metres to touch down in the corner prompting wild celebrations from the whole team and from the vociferous Petersfield supporters.
Referee Mike Gill, one of Hampshire’s most experienced and highly regarded officials wrote to both clubs after, summing up the general feeling of all who’d be privileged to be at Hook Lane. He said to both clubs in an e-mail, “I would like to express my appreciation and admiration for being able to be involved in this game. It was a privilege to be the referee on the pitch for such a full blooded and skilful encounter between two such excellent sides. Full credit should go to the outstanding work undertaken by the coaches and to the players for their enthusiasm and commitment.If these young men are the future players of Hampshire rugby, then the
future looks really good!”
A wonderful compliment to both clubs.
Havant were magnanimous after the game saying that justice was done, but what a fantastic match, a great advert for Colts rugby and great end to a memorable weekend for the Penns Place club. The Colts Cup and medals were presented to the squad by League Organiser, Gary Hemmings to much raucous cheering from the crowd, and Petersfield now have the proud record on being the only club to retain the title since the Hampshire Colts League started in 2004.
