Marlborough 21 – 29 Havant
On Saturday, Marlborough hosted top-of-the league Havant on the Common, their first and last visit. Though the club was very welcoming to the visitors, the weather was anything but; it was more like four seasons in one day. The weather had been the cause of this fixture being played over this weekend. Marlborough was supposed to host Havant back in December, but due to a stubbornly frozen Common, the fixture had to be reversed. Luckily, Havant has an artificial pitch, so the game was held there instead.
This week’s match day sponsor was ‘This Way Up’. The club would like to say a huge thank you to Chris White and his team for supporting the game and the day—and what a game it was!
Despite the team missing some key players for this penultimate game, the Marlborough coaches were quietly confident that the boys could cause an upset against the league leaders, especially with home ground advantage, and of course, the very vocal Marlborough faithful. This was against the outcome of the last time these two teams met. On that day Marlborough started well, but eventually Havant ran away with the game, leaving Marlborough in their wake.
Sadly, the first half was played downhill but Marlborough were the first to put points on the board thanks to Will Grant’s boot three minutes into the game from the halfway line. Havant were very quick to strike back with a converted try from a rolling maul from a line out on the 11-minute mark.
This was turning into quite an even game now, with both teams having opportunities but both defences holding out. In the 22nd minute, there was another penalty scored from Will Grant’s boot. There was now just one point in it.
Again, Havant struck back with another converted try to lead 6 – 14. Marlborough were struggling to live with Havant’s maul strength from which they made many metres.
But Marlborough didn’t let their heads go down and Save Tuimatanisaqa who was a complete menace off the back of the scrum, grabbing Marlborough’s only try of the first half following a tap penalty followed by two phases for Save then to crash over in the corner which was then duly converted by Will Grant.
Half-Time: Marlborough 13 – 14 Havant
There was an extremely positive half time talk from the coaches, but the boys were also disappointed that they had not manged to score more points going downhill, but the boys were very much in a determined frame of mind when the whistle blew for the second half.
The second half started well for Marlborough resulting in another penalty slotted in by Will Grant on 47 minutes with Marlborough finally taking the lead for the first time in the match. The game was beginning to get very entertaining; Marlborough were starting to nullify Havant’s mauling prowess and it looked like Marlborough could cause the upset they had wanted. Marlborough extended their lead with a try in the corner from Akariva Seruvatu (Aka) on the 62nd minute which began from a great cross field kick from Viliami Hakalo (Vili) with Granty adding the extras. Sadly, this was the last time that Marlborough affected the scoreboard.
The visitors found a new gear, played with renewed intensity, and struck back within two minutes with an unconverted try again from a maul. Then, four minutes later, they scored again with a converted try. Their ruck speed doubled, but Marlborough dug in and started the fight back and tried to play catch up, but with five minutes to go, they conceded a penalty, which Havant kicked to put Marlborough out of reach of a seven-point losing bonus point.
Marlborough rallied in the dying seconds. Taking the ball from the 22-metre area up into the opposition’s half, desperately trying to get another score, putting in twenty phases of play, and though this was a valiant effort, sadly time ran out.
Final Score: Marlborough 21 – 29 Havant
The Marlborough boys can be very proud of their efforts against the league leaders, and it was by far one of the most entertaining games of rugby seen on the Common for a very long time. Full of thrills and spills, highs and lows and delighted the Marlborough faithful. It may not have been the result they wanted but it was a spectacle to behold.
Congratulations goes to Havant as this win sees them promoted. But also, a great deal of credit must also go to the Marlborough boys. With Iliasavani Nasemira, Pau Sema and Rusiate Kalouniviti all having their first game for the 1st XV. Also, the youngster, 18-year-old Lotu Vunipola had another outstanding game in the back row. 2nd XV team captain Kieran Brown had a huge game at openside flanker and is now very much staking a claim to become a first team regular.
‘Man of the Match’ was Save Tuimatanisaqa (sponsored by Green Sky), whose ball carrying was immense and made an absolute nuisance of himself to the opposition. His phenomenal strength, along with some speed and determination, made him a force to be reckoned with.
The players were also extremely grateful to the contingent of U13 players who helped to support the day, Before the game, they mercilessly sold raffle tickets to anyone and everyone, raising much needed funds. Then during the game Eddie Barratt, Dan Hughes, Benji Place, Clem Shoosmith and Ben Fry did a cracking job as ball boys, ensuring the game kept flowing. Well, done boys, a great job done.
There is no rugby next Saturday due to it being Easter weekend, but the following weekend sees the end of the season. Marlborough host Tunbridge Wells on the Common and the 2nd XV are away to Pewsey in their final local derby of the season. Everything is still to play for, two wins please!
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