Match report: New Milton RFC battle hard but unbeaten Hampshire Counties One champions Havant RFC seconds win 65-16

New Milton threw everything they had at unbeaten champions Havant seconds – who have won all 21 league games this season – but the visitors ran out comfortable winners on Saturday.

The hosts came flying out of the blocks, pinning Havant back and forcing them to touch down behind their own line. In the resulting play, Havant gave away a penalty within kickable range, and scrum-half Dalton Thomas duly converted.

Havant managed to get the ball from the kick-off and run in from near the halfway line. A trick the league leaders would repeat all afternoon. Almost half of their eventual 11 tries came after seizing loose balls and running in scores from deep.

New Milton once again went on the attack, and the forwards were relentless with the pressure they applied to the Havant defence. Eventually, the slow rolling away by Havant allowed the hosts a further penalty, making it 7-6 after 11 minutes.

Havant scored two further tries before the break, both of which were once again full-pitch run-ins. Although Havant were the better team, the 34-9 scoreline was flattering, given the commitment by New Milton.

The second half was a similar affair. New Milton pressured Havant and had numerous attacks snuffed out, only to see Havant’s back heel.

The watching crowd were delighted to see Thomas touch down a try after he had been denied minutes earlier.

The old hands of Danny Oliver, Matt Wale, and Sam Bew – playing his last game for the side after retiring from the New Milton first-team line-up – complimented the Colts coming through, and all of them played well.

New Milton’s final game of the season sees them take on Guernsey seconds – who they beat 17-10 on the opening day of the season – away from home.

New Milton: H. Chung, H, Duell-Merritt, G. Shortland, J. Corbett, R. Richardson, N. MacQueen, S. Bew, T. Hawkins, D. Thomas, J. Eldridge, M. Mycroft, A. Bolter-Jackson, D. Oliver, L. Thompson, M. Russell. Subs: L. Booker, Z. Smith, M. Wale.