Hartpury RFC beaten by strong Henley
side
Henley Hawks leapfrogged Hartpury College into third place with a bonus-point victory at Dry Leas.
The home side opened the scoring against the run of play on 10 minutes through centre Danny Wells, who crossed for a converted try after Hartpury had conceded a number of penalties in quick succession.
England U20 scrum half Dan Robson’s try and Tim Stevenson’s conversion brought the visitors back on level terms on the quarter-hour mark following a swift counter attack, before Stevenson edged Hartpury in front with a drop goal five minutes later.
Henley snatched the lead back with two penalties from James Comben, and received a huge boost when Hartpury’s Rob Langley and Harry Casson were yellow carded within a minute of each other just before the break.
Hartpury struggled to cope with the loss of two forwards, and Neil Baggett went over in the corner on the stroke of half time to extend Henley’s advantage to 20-10 with Comben’s conversion.
The students’ task became all the more difficult when the hosts made full use of their numerical advantage to send Alex Cheeseman over for another try just seconds after the restart.
The visitors, however, did dominate proceedings with Casson and Langley back on the field, and reduced the deficit through an Ian Clark five-pointer after an incisive move off a scrum.
There was to be no comeback, however, as a dangerous Henley side hit their opponents on the break again to score their fourth try through Tom Allen, with Stevenson’s late score scant consolation for the Gloucestershire side.
Hartpury RFC would like to thank Henley for their excellent hospitality and look forward to welcoming them to the College for the return fixture in March.
Hartpury RFC’s next match is the big county derby against Lydney at home on Saturday 26th November.
Squad: 15 Speirs 14 Brend 13 Hayes 12 Rodwell 11 Clark 10 Stevenson (1T, 1C, 1 DG) 9 Robson (1T) 1 Barrington 2 Townsend 3 Morris 4 Waldron 5 Casson (sin bin 37’-47’) 6 Langley (sin bin 36’-46’) 7 Craven 8 Thomas (capt.) 16 Britton 17 Thorne 18 Walker 19 Field 20 Lewis
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