Bournemouth v havant

Team Selection: Just one change to the backs that played in the Camberley game. In the forwards, the two locks: Matt Warwick and Connor McCaffery were replaced by Ben Goodall and Ademuwagun Anjolaoluwa, the latter coming off the bench. The back row remained unchanged. On the bench, Louis Allum and Josh Wickens replacd Ademuwagun Anjolaoluwa and Jordan Wayman Over cast, so good with out the sun, cold but crucially no wind. Underfoot, the pitch looked in good nick, all amounting to perfect conditions for a game of rugby football.

Bournemouth’s Second-half Performance nearly brought Home the Bacon

As last week, Grant Hancox was in fine kicking form capitalizing on early Bournemouth pressure that yielded three penalties all of which he kicked. Bournemouth got to a flying-start with Havant being penalized for a high tackleas Bournemouth recovered their own kick-off with Hancox kicking his first goal from inside the Havant 10m.

1m: 3-0 Hancox/12/9.

With Bournemouth continuing to put Havant under considerable pressure, the visitors yielded a second penalty and two minutes later, from a similar position, the inside centre kicked his second goal.

3m: 6-0 Hancox/12/p.

Havant were penalized at a scrum at the restart and full-back Antony Fitch found a good touch to his left on the Havant 22m. The throw-in wasn’t straight but Bournemouth pressure at the resulting scrum yielded a penalty. Hancox, from just 10 metres, kicked his third goal of the afternoon.

9m: 9-0 Hancox/12/p.

Bournemouth soon discovered how dangerous Havant’s Joel Knight could be, when the centre broke from deep within his own half to release Ben Holt to score an outstanding try, if rather ominous one from a Bournemouth perspective.

12m: 9-7 Havant/tc.

Again, Bournemouth pressure in a scrum at the restart yielded another penalty and Hancox, from again inside the Havant 10m, kicked another excellent goal.

14m: 12-7 Havant/tc.

Havant found it difficult to break down the Bournemouth defence but from a lineout on the Bournemouth 10m kicked. A good chase saw them catch the receiver in possession and turned the ball over to score under the posts. The conversion was a formality.

28m: 12-14 Havant/tc.

Havant ran the restart back and a good passing movement, again through their dangerous threes, saw them over again for a third converted try.

30m: 12-21 Havant/tc.

To add to Bournemouth’s misery, they had been penalized in trying to prevent the score and Havant had a penalty at the restart. They found touch to their left on the Bournemouth 22m but attacking right off the line-out they were penalized. Bournemouth found touch to their left. Havant ‘stole’ the throw-in, but Bournemouth recovered the situation by turning the ball over and being awarded a scrum on the Havant 10m for a Havant knock-on. With referee Ware playing advantage, Bournemouth out from the scrum but a desperate Havant defence managed to prevent them from scoring. The cleared right for a Bournemouth line-out on the Havant 22m. Bournemouth drove off the line-out and released the ball right but were penalized on the Havant 5m. Havant found touch to their left and, at the line-out, Ware blew for half-time.

40m: 12-21 Half-time.

Bournemouth ran the Havant restart before kicking but Havant countered dangerously taking play deep into the Bournemouth 22m before they were finally stopped, and Bournemouth awarded a scrum. Havant were penalized as Bournemouth attacked right off the scrum and Fitch found touch to his left inside the Bournemouth 10m. Bournemouth drove off the line-out before releasing the ball right taking play into the Havant 22m where the visitors were penalized. Bournemouth found touch to their right 10 metres out. Driving off the line-out, Havant turned the ball over and cleared left for a Bournemouth line-out outside the Havant 22m. Driving off the line-out, they released the ball left with full-back Fitch coming in the line to provide the extra man, but a dangerous three-quarter move ended when Bournemouth were penalized chasing down their kick ahead. Havant Found touch to their right for a line-out outside their own 22m. Attacking left, Havant chipped ahead. Bournemouth secured the ball and countered first right then left before breaking out. They worked the ball back left to find Taylor coming off his wing to score in the corner. Hancox failed to convert but Bournemouth had got the second half off to a good start.

49m: 17-21 Taylor/14/t, Hancox/12/c miss.

Despite some good Bournemouth pressure from the restart, they were penalized at a Havant scrum despite an excellent counter shove. Havant found touch to their left just 10 metres out from the Bournemouth. A well-organized drive off the line-out saw them over the line. The kick was good, and Havant had, very quickly, restored their lead.

56m: 17-28 Havant/tc.

With Lock Ademuwagun Anjolaoluwa to the fore Bournemouth struck back strongly and won a penalty. Fitch found touch his right just ten metres from the Havant line. Havant were penalized again, and Fitch found touch but this time a little closer. Havant countered the drive but Bournemouth recovered for flanker Ciaran Smyth to force his way over. Hancox kicked the goal.

62m: 24-28 Smyth/7/t. Hancox/12/c..

Try as they might, Bournemouth couldn’t break Havant down and the visitors held on for a hard-won victory.

80+1m: 24-28 Full Time.

Bournemouth’s playing record against Havant.

League: P2 W0 D0 L2. For 31/3e2c4p, Ag 62/9t7cp.

Overall: 43 W15 D0 L28. For 453/47t20c33p2d, Ag 689/89t52c35pd.

Bournemouth’s next match is away to Brighton, Saturday (Feb 11, KO 2.30PM).

Doug Warren, Bournemouth RFC.