‘Magnificent’ Havant back on top of London One South after stunning win at Medway

The hard-fought success enabled them to leapfrog above Westcombe Park who lost narrowly at Camberley.

On a day when the top four clubs went head to head, it was the Hooks Lane side that came out on top.

Senior coach Will Knight admitted his side were made to work hard for their win.

He was delighted, however, with the way his players rose to the challenge.

'Medway showed what a good side they are and we only had about 40 per cent of the possession,' said Knight.

'They came at us right from the start and in the first 15 minutes we hardly touched the ball.

'During this spell our defence was magnificent and, though they battered us, they only had three points to show for it.

'After that we bounced back to lead 22-9 at half-time.

'In the second half Medway, with the benefit of the wind and slope, pinned us back.

'They put us under the cosh again and came at us hammer and tongs again in the final stages.

'We produced another magnificent defensive performance to keep them out.'

After weathering the early storm, on 19 minutes Havant broke out to score the first try.

From a scrummage on the home 22, scrum half Jake Hewitt put winger James Wise over in the corner. Joel Knight added the conversion.

A second Havant try followed seven minutes later when Jerome Trail picked a perfect line to crash over.

Before half-time Harry Carr got on the end of a Knight chip ahead to add a third try.

This was converted by Knight, who also knocked over a penalty.

Havant were pegged back into their own quarters again at the start of the second period.

Crucially, though, centre Joe Moore pulled off an interception and sprinted away to score a try from his own ten metre line.

Knight again made no mistake with the conversion.

'Medway threw everything at us after that and we did well to keep them out,’ he remarked.

'We know that we are in a very tight competition at the top.

'At this stage we couldn't ask for any more to find ourselves top.

'It means that we are in a position where our fate is in our own hands.

'Westcombe Park and Camberley still have to come to Hooks Lane.

'If we can maintain our consistency and hold our form then we will give ourselves every chance.'