Late Bedford comeback stuns Hartpury as they slide to first defeat of the season
By James Logan & Luke Jarmyn, at Goldington Road
DISAPPOINTMENT and injustice was the overriding feeling among Hartpury’s travelling contingent after Bedford Blues turned around a 14 point deficit to win 38-30 at Goldington Road.
Dean Adamson added the cherry on the cake for the home-side to complete their ladies day celebrations, while the university side were left with several what ifs after their first Champ Rugby defeat of the season.
Hartpury seemed to be on their way to continue their impressive form in the re-branded tier two league, Mark Cornwell’s side steaming out the blocks into a 24-17 lead at the break through tries from Cai Gealy, Rhys Price and Robbie Smith.
However, a poor second half inevitably scuppered any hope of a hat-trick of Hartpury league victories with tries from George Worth, Oisin Heffernan and Joey Conway all breaking the red wall to score before Adamson’s late effort denies the visitors of a losing bonus point.
It was a busy first 40 minutes amid chilly conditions in Bedfordshire, with both teams’ adamant about throwing the ball around.
Although it would be ‘pury that had the better of it, an early blood injury replacement saw scrum-half Rhys Price subbed for Cai Gealy after a nasty collision off kick-off, with Bedford fly-half Tom Price sent to the bin after a mere 18 seconds for the head-on-head collision.
It would be his replacement that got the visitors started, pressure in the Blues 22’ metre area finally paying as Gealy found the gap to score, Harry Bazalgette nailing the conversion.
The lead would soon be doubled, Price returning to the field and finishing off a brilliant breakaway score despite loud shouts for a forward pass, referee Dan Jones waving away claims from a raucous home crowd.
Our hosts hadn’t had much luck, but two quick scores soon got them back into the game following a Harry Short yellow card for a late tackle on the touchline.
Archie Benson made the most of a shortened ‘pury defence to drive over under the posts before Kayde Sylvester levelled the scores after running the support line for Dean Adamson. Bedford pivot Tom Price converted both, making it 14-14.
It looked like the hosts were in the ascendancy, but after ‘pury centre Robbie Smith judged the interception perfectly, he raced away to score the visitors' third try; Bazalgette converting successfully again.
Bedford’s discipline had been the main talking point of the first 40 minutes, and another infringement allowed Bazalgette to add another three points just short of half-time, giving the reds a 10-point lead.
The second half seemed to have started in similar fashion, ‘pury very much on top.
But it would be the hosts who took the initiative, centre George Worth driving over from close range after some sustained pressure on the visitors' line.
Bazalgette continued his hot streak from the tee with another penalty to extend ‘pury’s lead back out to eight. Still, a score from Blues tighthead Oisin Heffernan, converted by replacement stand-off replacement Will Maisey brought the home-side to within a point, 26-27.
Hartpury attempted to weather the storm and would get the chance to extend their lead on the 70th minute again from the tee, Bazalgette showing again why he’s one of the league’s before talisman as he recorded a 100% record for the afternoon.
But the remainder of the game would seem to go in favour of the hosts, who were dressed in bright pink for their ladies’ day celebrations.
A try for replacement loosehead Conway, converted by Maisey, took the home-side into the lead for the first time on the 75th minute.
Despite the visitors' determination, it would prove to be just too much of an ask, and the hosts capped off the afternoon with one final score; Adamson diving into the corner with Maisey’s pinpoint conversion putting the nail in the coffin and taking away the losing bonus point.
The 38-30 win to the Bedfordshire side sees them move level on points with Hartpury, who have slipped to sixth in the 14-team table.
Hartpury host 10th place Chinnor in their next league fixture.
Stats:
|
Bedford Blues |
|
Hartpury RFC |
|
15 |
Penalties conceded |
13 |
|
8 |
Line-outs won |
11 |
|
1 |
Line-outs Lost |
0 |
|
9 |
Scrums won |
7 |
|
0 |
Scrums lost |
1 |
|
1 |
Sin-bins |
1 |
|
0 |
Red-cards |
0 |
Bedford Blues 38
Tries: Benson 26’, Sylvester 29’, Worth 56’, Heffernan 65’, Conway 75’, Adamson 80’
Conversions: T Price 26’, 29’, Maisey 65’, 80’
Penalties: 0
Drop Goals: 0
Bedford Blues: Louis James; Rafe Witheat (Lucus Titherington 22’), George Worth, Michael Le Bourgeois, Dean Adamson; Tom Price (Will Maisey 40’), Alex Day ©; Jamie Jack (Joey Conway 44’), James Fish (Tommy Herman 68’), Oisin Heffernan, Archie Benson, Rory Ward, Fyn Brown (Ilan Evans 68’), Kayde Sylvester (Fred Tuilagi 58’), Tui Uru
Not Used: Monty Royston, James Lennon
Hartpury RFC 30
Tries: Gealy 8’, R Price 20’, Smith 30’
Conversions: Bazalgette 8’, 20’, 30’
Penalties: Bazalgette 37’, 56’, 69’
Drop Goals: 0
Hartpury RFC: Alex Morgan; Brad Denty, Robbie Smith (Max Knight 62’), Ollie Allsopp, Ollie Holiday; Harry Bazalgette, Rhys Price (Cai Gealy 1’-8’, ); Louie Trevett (Harrison Bellamy 47’), Will Crane © (Ethan Hunt 44’), Jon Benz-Salomon (Alex Gibson 65’), Dale Lemon (Josh Gray 70’), Jack Davies, Peter Paramore, Harry Short (Ellis Hart 47'-56', 65'), Jarrad Hayler
Not Used: Keir Clark
Referee: Dan Jones
Attendance: 2,575
Half-time: 24 - 14 (to Hartpury)
Star players: Rory Ward (Bedford Blues) / Harry Bazalgette (Hartpury)
Hartpury undone by ill-discipline
By James Logan, at Goldington Road
A disheartened Hartpury RFC director of rugby Mark Cornwell expressed his “disappointment” with the result.
After the final whistle he said: “I’m just really disappointed, especially as we started off really well.
“We made too many errors in our game and invited them back into it; we gave them some easy scores, and it cost us.”
Speaking about the attacking side of the performance, he feels there needed to be more in the second 40’, and added: “There were certain elements of our game that we just dropped off in.
“It was very uncharacteristic of how we have been playing and how we want to be playing the rest of the season.
“But these are all things that we will be aiming to iron out in training and over the next weeks to make sure we are the best version of ourselves.”
Mark also highlighted how discipline played a part in how the result turned out.
He said, “If you’re always in those areas of the pitch, you lose the referee and some of the decisions.
“We didn’t have the territory to come away with points.”
Hartpury’s stalwart back-rower, Harry Short, was also deflated by the result.
The No.7 said, “We weren’t quite on it where we have been in the last two weeks, but it is just a dip in the road.
“It’s never plain sailing, and it is a very difficult place to come and get a result; we’ve only ever won here once.
“So, we knew it would be one hell of a challenge, and we just weren’t quite on it today.”
Despite still being a couple of months away, the back rower had made himself the pantomime villain, but he believes that dealing with crowds getting on top of you is to be expected.
He said: “Personally I was told to stop time wasting, but when bloods pouring out of my head that’s quite a difficult thing to achieve.
“But it is all fun and games and when you come to a place like this [Goldington Road] it’s what we enjoy and expect from the opposition crowd.
“For me I know I really enjoy coming to this ground and I really thrive off the stick I get from supporters and apart from the result it was a very good afternoon.”
