RFU National 2 East - Henley Hawks v HRFC (L20-13)
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First Impression: Henley Hawks v HRFC (L20-13)
Venue: Dry Leas
Crowd: Approx 500
Weather: Very Bright/ Dry/ Nil Wind
Surface: Firm Short Grass
Havant Rugby Football Club
Henley Hawks RFC
Match images are now available at: https://windandsurfimages.zenfolio.com/p829400773
Coaches Comment: @HavantRugbyFootballClub You Tube Channel
First impressions provides a short sharp back-brief of a fading memory of 'what just happened on the pitch' for anyone who couldn't get to the game. Hopefully it serves to provide a bit of match context as you peruse our images. Sadly there's No time to access match video, hence there might be some mistaken memories or differences of opinion, but this is nothing more than a simple collection of touchline thoughts to fire your imagination for next time ... and not the official match report. #IMHO
First Impression:
First Half - Quite a difficult error strewn game to watch. Havant started hard and fast and the increased pace of recycle really was generating space in an unsettled Henley defence - Havant subsequently just looked to attack the holes #simples. Sure enough on 10', having achieved decent field position and won a lineout in the killzone, we executed a nice catch and drive and Cam Boa went over on the back of the posse. The ref was happy with the picture. But by '23 mins, Ben Holt had got himself on the wrong side of official opinion and was subsequently sent to the bin - not long after Henley scored to draw level. At this level we really cannot afford to give the opposition an assist in creating more space by reducing numbers on the pitch. Then in a intense period of Henley attacks our now scrambling midfield defence was put under significant pressure, resulting in multiple tackles and some big hits where one subsequently looked to finish with an up-ending, there was the inevitable handbags and uproar… followed by the ref calling for a 2nd opinion from the assistant ... who after much gesticulation and flying hands subsequently adjudged there had been a tip tackle (fair call) …and then sent the wrong man (JK) to the bin (unfair call!). With the clock run down, Ben Holt was subsequently restored to play - but henley still had the space to exploit the midfield and by '40 had scored again(14-7). HT - for some it couldn't come quick enough!
Second Half - Relatively even and with playing numbers now back in balance, there looked to be some parity again, albeit on '60 Henley opted to take the penalty shot (17-7), which havant then recovered with a similar shot on '67 (17-10). Again more relative playing parity, but then another Hawks penalty on '70 converted (20-10), only for Havant to build a resurgence and a good solid last period where they began to win the Ref's whistle - finally getting a kickable penalty on '79. This time we rightly re-secured the losing Bonus point kicking the points, before regaining the field position in the overtime ... where we won another penalty. With the losing BP already secured - and the clock now in overtime - this was now perfectly set-up to take the ‘go for broke’ opportunity and kick to for the corner and make that catch and drive attempt to get the draw. What a difference a week makes!! ... but sadly our basics failed and we couldn’t get the kick to the corner into touch - Henley kept it in and smashed it out down field .. and that was that!
Summary: A strange fractious game - Henley looked a little flat despite playing in front of their home supporters and we seemed to be making more mistakes than normal. Playing 20 mins with two players under carded penalty just made the task harder. That said - we held parity in most contested areas throughout the game and barring the ref's official viewpoint, were definitely in amongst it though-out. While there can be no criticism of the adjudication, it has to be said that the flow of the whistle did seem to be conditioned by those who were protesting the loudest, or had caught the eye of the assistant whose input also proved to change decisions a number of times - including wrongly sending a key playmaker from the park on a yellow instead of the actual offender. These are tight games and they carry a reasonable level of adrenaline fuelled intensity, so its not surprising that mistakes are made and frustrations build (no one’s perfect) - but for the game to flow properly.. there must be a level of adjudication consistency and today I think we probably failed to get that. Its not the personalties in charge, it probably the way the game unfolded - the standard swiss cheese of issues just lining up - some would say 'its just the run of the course' - but from my perspective it’s a part of the game we need to manage better - just don’t give the officials the chance to impact your play with their whistle. Clearly for those of us fighting for every decision these days - these ‘official’ decisions carry a much greater level of magnitude and impact. That said - In all fairness not withstanding a somewhat 'moderate' performance in the first 3 quarters, our last quarter looked to be building the right kind of robust Havant response, and notwithstanding the injury upheavals managed during the game, we actually managed to almost swing the game momentum back in our favour - scrum dominance and breakdown penalties subsequently started to come our way and as we neared the end we had built a nice run of play, were keeping the ref happy and finally secured the Losing BP with a converted penalty. Clearly the proof of the pudding was how we might respond in those last few minutes - happily we kept the pressure on and managed to set ourselves up for a grandstand recovery ... sadly our execution failed us, the kick didn't make touch and the game was ended (L20-13). A very different game to last week, but happily the final culminating piece of game management was delivered in a more logical order of priority for the purists. Don’t be surprised there is significant level of pressure being felt across this group at the moment and we (lane faithful) need to do our bit to help relieve the end of season ground-rush as the inevitable knifefight for survival points kicks-in. As is mentioned weekly - They are all going to count! 😎👊#nextjob #neversaynever #noeasygames #everythingcounts #upthehill
Storyboard
1. Good solid opening pace and intensity from Havant with strong carries and sniping runs
2. Havant get first score (0-7) Cam Boa diving under the Hawks from a catch and drive.
3. Ben Holt goes to the Bin '23/ Henley Score with relative ease (7-7)
4. Joel Knight to the Bin '35 (Wrong Man Ref!) / Henley manage another score (14-7) / HT
5. Second half - Better Havant intensity after restart / but still a penalty imbalance to the opposition / (17-7) 60'
6. Finally Havant regain some pressure and eventually the penalty recovery (17-10) '67
7. More Henley Pressure / another Penalty (20-10)
8. Havant final resurgence - resulting in a Good solid period of Havant pressure / penalty (20-13) '79 - Losing BP now secured #goagain
9. .. Havant keep coming with More pressure on Henley .. and win another penalty - this is our chance! With Losing BP already in the Bag and the clock in overtime - Havant can now go for corner to set up catch & Drive to potentially grab the draw … but the kick doesn't make touch - End of game! #bonuspointsarekey
#noeasygames #upthehill #laneeffectnext
Next Job: Oxford (Hooks Lane)
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