OFF THE MARK!

by Richard Isaacs | Sep 13, 2025 | Senior Rugby

Tottonians bounced back from their disappointing opening day defeat to put an end to Havant Dolphins’ 24-match unbeaten record and get themselves on the board with a commanding victory at a packed Water Lane.

TOTTONIANS 46 HAVANT DOLPHINS 36
Water Lane, Totton
Saturday 13th September 2025
Regional 2 South Central – match 2

This was much needed. With the strong words of the coaching staff still ringing in their ears after last week’s showing, a strong characteristic performance was required and, against a strong Havant second string, they did just that to get their season off and running.

It took Totts just seven minutes to get on the scoreboard and, having spent much of the early play in the visitors half, Havant attempted to run their way out of trouble from their own 22.

This only resulted in them coughing up possession in midfield, straight into the hands of Bruno Nascimbene. He quickly recycled the ball and it was passed out wide to Leo Tongue, in acres of space, to curve his way to the line. George Hixon successfully added the extras and Totts were 7-0 to the good.

Havant would level the scores – somewhat fortutiously – on 15 minutes. As they poured forward, there was a clear and very obvious knock-on, which was missed by the official.

Although the visitors were pushed back to half way by some excellent defence, their resilience was broken when hooker Charles Wright bundled over from a line-out catch and drive, Worsley adding the conversion.

Parity lasted just sixty seconds when Hixon slotted a penalty and a marginal foot in touch denied the hosts of extending their lead further as the Counties 1 Hampshire champions were finding it much tougher in the Regional divisions.

As the half hour mark approached, Havant continued to be largely pegged into their own half and Totts would take full advantage. Piling on the pressure on the east Hampshire outfit, the home side were awarded a penalty. Good work from the forwards allowed Totts to punch holes in the Havant back line taking them close. As the ball came out, fly-half Jamie Laing collected and played a sensational back flick to the on-rushing Tom Tully to sprint through the wrong-footed defence to further Totts’ lead.

Totts would lose influential flanker Connor Andrews to injury shortly afterwards and Havant finally started to piece together some meaningful attacks, so much so that winger and captain James Wise crossed in the corner as Worsley sucked two players in with a dummy to open the space for the former County player to cut the gap.

Totts were hit with another blow when second row Callum Turvey was helped from the field with a serious looking knee injury, stretching Totts’ resources on the park, seeing both the ever reliable Scott Rogers and Jonny Lovell brought into action early.

As Turvey was leaving the park, from the scrum restart, Nic Jansen’s sharp pick and go at the base found Harry Dolbear who, in turn, was supported by Tongue who weaved his way from 20 yards for his second of the afternoon to push the lead back to ten points.

However, a try by Scott Thomson as half-time approached for the visitors saw that advantage halved and gave Totts plenty to think at the break.

HALF TIME – Tottonians 24 Havant Dolphins 19

It would be fair to say that Havant had the better of the early play in the second half but they hadn’t bargained for what could be an early contender for try of the season.

Havant were awarded a penalty which was kicked to touch. From the line-out, their forwards drove forward to within close range of the try line but they lost possession and Totts attempted to relieve the pressure from within their ingoal area.

Step forward Tom Tully! Spotting a gap, he carved his way through, dodging flying tackles to set off an a full 100 metre sprint diagonally across the pitch, chased by a flank of Havant defenders. He would be hauled in five metres out but some excellent ball retention from the onrushing Totts attackers and a clever chip across from Laing allowed Hixon to bounce over for the superb score.

Even though Jansen was sinbinned for ten minutes as Tottonians once again poured forward, it was the 14-men that would further their lead on the hour mark.

As Havant were again deep in their 22 following a penalty kick to touch, Totts tore into the visitors once more but Dylan Kirk was to be denied initially as the ball was held up but, as the play returned for another penalty and another kick to touch, this time was Laing, who had an outstanding game at fly-half, who bundled his way over for Totts’ sixth try of the afternoon to stretch the score to 36-19.

But two quick fire scores from the visitors certainly maintained that the game was far from over at this point as Rory Penfold and Thomson again went over for the blue and whites and the lead went back to five.

That was until Worsley, another new addition to the Havant squad following Hampshire training at the end of last season, knocked on an attempted interception as Jansen flicked outside to Dolbear and the referee had no choice in awarding the penalty try and sending the fly-half for a break.

Laing pushed the scoreline to over three scores and, while Havant did add their own sixth try of the afternoon as time ran out from Penfold, it was too late to make an impact and Tottonians can be pleased with their afternoon’s work.

They will look to further that encouragement when they make the short trip across the New Forest to Ellingham and Ringwood – for the first time since 1990 … when they were called just plain old Ellingham!

TOTTONIANS POINT SCORERS:
2 tries – Leo Tongue
1 try – Tom Tully
1 try – George Hixon
1 try – Jamie Laing
Penalty Try
4 conversions – George Hixon
1 penalty – George Hixon
1 penalty – Jamie Laing

PLAYER OF THE MATCH WILL INGRAM SPEAKS ALONGSIDE COACH TIM OSMAN AFTER THE HAVANT DOLPHINS GAME