Knight salutes Havant's best yet

After a competitive opening half at Hooks Lane, the home side cut loose to run riot with a powerful performance in the second period.

Chiswick were no pushovers but the power and precision of Havant proved too much for them to handle.

Head coach Knight said: ‘It wasn’t as easy and as straightforward as the final scoreline might suggest.

‘Chiswick proved very competitive and we were made to work hard to get on top.

‘We edged ahead in the first half before tearing them apart in the second.

‘In the past we have had to grind out some of our wins but on this occasion we were able to take the shackles off.

‘We showed great confidence, played heads up rugby and delivered effectively.

‘It was very pleasing to see and be part of.’

The two sides swapped early penalties before Havant notched the first try of the afternoon.

Forwards and backs combined well before centre Ben Brierley flipped a pass inside for Joel Knight to score.

The latter then added to his earlier penalty with the conversion.

Chiswick reduced the arrears with a chip-and-chase try but soon after a Luke Warrington restored the home side’s seven-point advantage.

Another penalty pegged Havant back but on the stroke of half-time before home winger Loz Blackburn went in for the first of his four tries.

‘Loz Blackburn kept finding himself in the right place at the right time and produced some great finishing,’ said Will Knight.

The Chiswick resistance continued at the start of the second half when another try make it 20-16.

From that point, however, Havant took total charge – adding six more tries.

Brierley scored twice, another three came from Blackburn and number eight Gav Hart added the other.

‘It was only in the latter stages it became a romp,’ said Will Knight.

‘All the hard work we did in the first half softened our opponents up.

‘Our pack were on top from the start and all the pressure finally began to take its toll on the opposition.

‘It was a fabulous team performance and a massive boost for the club. We have set ourselves some targets between now and the end of the season.

‘Sutton & Epsom are the only team to do the double over us this season and we want to keep it that way.

‘This was a big test – even more so than against high-flying Guildford as we have always been capable of raising our game against the top sides.

‘We have now won four games on the trot.

‘And it has been a while since we have done that.’