THE recovery continues for a revitalised Andover, as they came away from struggling Effingham with a fine five point win on the road, after winning 26-10.

It was not all plain sailing for the All Blacks however as the home side put up a brave fight, but in the end the superior fitness and power of the visitors overcame them.

Jake Dixon stepping into the number eight birth did most of the damage with the nineteen year old scoring an impressive hat trick of tries in a man of the match performance.

But there was also a big blow for Andover when after the match James Monck, was found to have a fractured eye socket meaning the influential tight-head's season may now be over.

Andover started well against the breeze with Alex Arter setting out his stall with a huge defensive hit, but Andover were strangely lethargic in the loose.

At scrum time however Andover soon exerted their dominance and after a series of penalties the home side received a yellow card for a deliberate knock on.

Andover elected to scrum and as the scrum collapsed Dixon broke powerfully for his first score.

Andover then became disjointed as the home side rallied and conceded a penalty which was well converted.

Andover enjoyed plenty of possession but impatience was a factor as they failed to add to their score and just on half time they were stunned as Effingham took the lead with a neat converted try.

An honest exchange at half time led to a change of fortune as Andover finally got into gear.

Realising territory was the name of the game they looked after the ball much better and with Nic Reed and Conor Green making inroads the warning signs were there.

It was at the breakdown however Andover really began to get the upper hand.

Harry Batt entered the fray and a series of turnovers from him and Fin Waite combined with some shuddering hits by brother Tom Waite, shook the home side who began to lose discipline.

Penalties followed and as Andover elected to scrum, Dixon was given an armchair ride to score again, this time Rich Rettalick converting.

Back in the lead Andover never looked back.

Sean Higgins once again excellent at scrum half was a thorn in Effingham's side and with Harrison Pape and Billy enjoying plenty of ball Andover poured forward.

Once again Andover turned to their scrum and once again Dixon delivered with Rettalick adding the extras.

Youngster Harvey Maloney making his debut on the wing, made some fine runs as did Arter and from one such break came the final nail in the home coffin.

Andover knocked on, but at the defensive scrum, the Andover front row led by skipper Alex Hibdige, blasted the home pack and as the ball flew loose, Fin Waite pounced to give Andover a bonus point, with Rettalick again on target with the conversion.

There was still work to do for Andover as the home side showed plenty of spirit, but when Arter and Bryn Waite, on for the impressive Josh Gibbs, both made fine defensive tackles and then combined superbly to go close to scoring, the game was up and Andover crept closer to mid table safety.

Afterwards Director of rugby was happy with the performance. 'We had a few forced changes this week, but the lads who came in showed the strength in depth we now have. We were a bit flat in the first half, but once we settled and worked out their game plan, we were much more clinical than we have been. Fantastic for the club as well to see Harvey Maloney, another academy graduate, become the third generation of his family to play at this level.'