Havant were ‘over-psyched’ in early stages
Havant head coach Will Knight admitted his troops were too 'psyched' in the early stages of their eventual London & SE Premier home defeat to title-chasing Sevenoaks.
And Knight says the responsibility for that rests with the club’s coaching staff for 'putting a little bit too much heat under the kettle' pre-match prior to going down 41-24 at Hooks Lane.
Havant were shell-shocked by a blistering Sevenoaks start which saw them race into 17-0 lead inside 20 minutes, while they held a sizeable 27-3 half-time advantage.
The hosts regrouped at the break and served up a much better second-half showing, but they ultimately left themselves too much to do against a Sevenoaks side who received a red card with 25 minutes still to play.
Knight reflected: ‘Credit where credit is due, Sevenoaks are a good side, they’re one of the best we’ve played this season.
‘What’s frustrating for the boys - they were properly up for the game - there were no issues with that.
‘Perhaps we were slightly over-psyched for the game in the first half. Even in the first half, people were flying in trying to make big tackles and, of course, sometimes when that happens it leaves big spaces. The coaching team will take responsibility for that because that’s part of the mental preparation we do - maybe we put a little bit too much heat under the kettle before the game.
Captain Joel Knight fired over Havant's first points with 28 minutes gone with a penalty – by which point
Sevenoaks were already 17-3 in front.
Pete Austin finally got the hosts' first try on 54 minutes and with a Sevenoaks player receiving a red card for lashing out in the build-up, Will Knight's men trailed 34-10 with a man advantage.
But there was to be no miraculous comeback, even despite further tries from Austin - his second of the game - and Joel Knight in the closing stages. Reuben Knight then saw a bonuspoint fourth try held up in the dying seconds to cap a frustrating day.