TOTTONIANS may still be Hampshire’s leading side in London One South, but local bragging rights belong down the road at Havant RFC.
The Portsmouth club, so long the top dogs of the county, showed Totts they can match the league newcomers as they claimed a see-saw battle 29-24 at Hooks Lane.
Totts struck first with a penalty from captain Robbie Searle and they held a slender lead at half time – Richard Buck finishing off a break from Pierre Clark and Bart van Herwijnen, while the hosts scored a try and penalty.
Three tries followed shortly after the break, two of them for Havant before a Robbie Searle interception, touchdown and conversion brought his side back into the game.
Totts kept the momentum going and went ahead when the home side conceded a penalty try and conversion after their pack collapsed a scrum.
Pounced Totts were 24-22 to the good at that point but the latter stages belonged to Havant who pounced with a match-winning try and conversion five minutes from time.
Tottonians returned to their Water Lane base with a single bonus point – no doubt looking forward to the rematch which is scheduled for April 9.
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