Hartpury RFC climb into second after third straight win

Koree Britton scored his second hat trick in three games as Hartpury College overturned a ten-point deficit to defeat a spirited and adventurous Barnes team 46-26 and climb into second place in National Division Two South.

The home side started the stronger of the sides and established an early 6-0 lead through two Warren Gower penalties.

Hartpury’s Tim Stevenson pulled one back on nine minutes, but Barnes flanker Simon Givens latched onto the former’s pass four minutes later and raced home from halfway for the first try.

England U20 hooker Britton barged over from close range on 16 minutes to register Hartpury’s first five-pointer, before Barnes extended their advantage to 18-8 with half an hour played when Gareth Williams-Davies dived upon a deft kick from his half back partner Hamish Reeves.

Hartpury were handed a huge boost two minutes before the break, however, when the hosts lost flanker Thomas Malaney to the sin bin, and the students’ winger Glen Lewis made them pay immediately when he touched down in the corner.

The away side took the lead for the first time in the game seven minutes after the restart when Graham Speirs crossed out wide, and Britton added his second six minutes later after being fed by Darren Morris.

Brandon Walker’s yellow card for a high tackle and Gower’s subsequent penalty briefly halted Hartpury’s momentum, but the home side tired and their opponents notched up further scores through Speirs, Britton and the latter’s international colleague Dan Robson.

Centre Fergus Jones crashed over for a late consolation for Barnes.

Hartpury RFC would like to thank Barnes for their excellent hospitality and wish them the best of luck for the rest of the season.

Hartpury RFC’s next match sees them take on Hertford at the College on Saturday 17^th December, which will be their final match in 2011.

Squad: 15 Speirs (2T) 14 Field 13 Hayes 12 Dancer 11 Lewis (1T) 10 Stevenson (4C, 1P) 9 Robson (1T) 1 Barrington 2 Britton (3T) 3 Morris 4 Head 5 Casson 6 Walker (sin bin 57’-67’) 7 Craven 8 Thomas (capt.) 16 Collins 17 Sandys 18 Townsend 19 Hoy 20 Dempsey

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