Hartpury RFC vs Exeter Chiefs - 03 - 54

Exeter Chiefs 54 Hartpury 03

Exeter Chiefs

Hartpury coaches full of pride with team despite Cup defeat to Chiefs

By Mark Stevens, at Sandy Park

Hartpury RFC head coach Mark Cornwell was full of praise for his side despite them slipping to a second successive defeat in this season’s Premiership Rugby Cup.

A 54-3 reverse at Exeter Chiefs may appear on paper as if the Championship visitors were simply outclassed at Sandy Park.

In truth, the scoreline doesn’t reflect what was a dogged display from Cornwell’s side, who took the lead inside three minutes courtesy of a penalty from fly-half Harry Bazalgette.

For periods, particularly in the second half, Hartpury were more than happy to go toe-to-toe with their illustrious hosts, whose power and pace was the notable difference between the two sides.

Hartpury’s determination was there throughout and Cornwell was ‘gutted’ not to see their efforts rewarded with at least one consolation score.

The Chiefs, however, were miserly in defence and keen to build on their win over the Cornish Pirates the previous week, they produced some ruthless finishing to ensure they top Pool E with maximum points.

Full-back Josh Hodge led the way for them, he scored 24 points in total, including two of their eight tries on the day.

No.8 Greg Fisilau helped himself to a hat-trick, while Dan Frost, Will Rigg and replacement Harvey Skinner also found their way over the whitewash.

Post-game, Cornwell reflected on his side’s performance, saying: “I’m proud of the boys, I thought we really good stuck in today. Obviously, Exeter’s power game came through, but we showed up at times defensively with some really strong sets.

“In the end, the class and depth of their told on our boys, but I’m really proud of the effort the boys put in today.”

In a strong start to the contest, Hartpury threw caution to the wind and they took the lead within minutes, Bazalgette slotting a penalty after the hosts were pulled up by referee Tom Foley.

The lead, however, proved short-lived as the Chiefs edged in front just moments later, Fisilau the beneficiary of a huge shove from the Exeter eight just five metres out.

Hodge doubled their tally midway through the half when he latched onto a pass from debutant Tamani Tua to race in by the posts, before Fisilau bagged a second of the game, producing a carbon copy of his first score.

Although three scores down, Hartpury remained competitive, constantly looking to pin their rivals back with some clever kicking from half-backs Matty Jones and Bazalgette.

As half time approached, the Chiefs netted their bonus point score, Frost peeling off the back of a close-range maul to dot down in the left corner.

Exeter extended their advantage early in the second half, Fisilau claiming his third of the afternoon, this time showing a good turn of speed to latch onto a pass from Richard Capstick.

To their credit, Hartpury continued to dog it out in the forward exchanges. No.8 Jarryd Hayler was particularly impressive with his carrying, while fellow back-rowers Sam Lewis and Harry Short did their best at the breakdown to win some crucial turnovers.

Although the visitors had more possession of the ball, finding a way through the Exeter defensive line was proving tough and having soaked up Hartpury pressure, the Chiefs showed them how it should be done with two quick fire tries.

Tom Wyatt and Rigg combined down the right to send Hodge over for his second, before Rigg himself got on the scoresheet, slaloming his way through the heart of the Hartpury midfield to make it 45-3.

Although Cornwell’s men continued to battle it out, particularly at close quarters in the forwards, it was the Chiefs who wrapped things up when Skinner was able to slide his way over from a Wyatt break.

For Cornwell, though, there were plenty of positives to take from the game. He added: “I was just hoping we could get over the line in that second half. Exeter, though, were very stingy and they stopped us.

“Fair play to them for that, but I thought we controlled large parts of that second half territorially and we have them pinned in their 22 for long periods. The disappointing thing was that we just couldn’t put those phases together to get us over the line.

“That said, it was a fully-loaded Exeter side, packed with players who have played in the Premiership, so for our guys to show up as they have today, I think we can take a lot of positives and a lot of credit from that game.”

Like Cornwell, No.8 Hayler was quick to praise his team-mates for their efforts in battle.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game, but I couldn’t fault any of our guys efforts,” he said. “The scoreline probably flatters them a bit, especially given how much we put into the game.

“However, I think we can take lots of positives from it. Obviously, the way they play - especially their work at the breakdown - you’re not going to come up against that every week in the Championship, but I thought we competed well and we probably deserved a little more than we got in the end.

“For all of us, it’s a great challenge to come up against Premiership sides and it’s game like this that you learn so much from.”

Exeter’s victory means they will head to Gloucester with a 100 per cent record in the competition and some much-needed confidence after a testing start to the season.

Assistant forwards coach Ross McMillan added: “I thought the boys went out and showed what we want to put out there as a brand of rugby and how we want to play.

"There is probably a bit more frustration for us as coaches, rather than players and supporters around that, but again this allows us to take a step forward into what is going to be a great couple of months ahead.

"In this game there is always pressure and how you cope with it, both as a player, as a coach or as a person, you get to see more about people's characters. Without being flippant, I've enjoyed seeing that because you get to know a little bit about other people and, in a way, you going to see who is going to take a step forward, but also who needs that bit of encouragement."

Tries: Greg Fisilau 9, 26, 42, Josh Hodge 21, 51, Dan Frost 39, Will Rigg 55, Harvey Skinner 75

Conversions: Josh Hodge 11, 22, 27, 43, 53, 56, 77

Penalties:

Drop goals:

Hartpury

Tries: 

Conversions: 

Penalties: Harry Bazalgette 6

Drop goals:

Team line-ups (15-9; 1-8):

Exeter Chiefs: Josh Hodge; Ben Hammersley, Will Rigg, Tamatai Tua (Paul Brown-Bampoe 64), Tom Wyatt; Will Haydon-Wood (Harvey Skinner 66), Will Becconsall (Stu Townsend 57); Will Goodrick-Clarke (Josh Iosefa-Scott 60), Dan Frost (Jack Innard 50), Ehren Painter (Jimmy Roots 48); Rus Tuima, Richard Capstick; Ethan Roots, Jacques Vermeulen © (Martin Moloney 46), Greg Fisilau (Lewis Pearson 66)

Yellow Card: Josh Iosefa-Scott 72

Hartpury: Alex Forrester; Brad Denty, Josiah Edwards-Giraud (Jack Johnson 53), Robbie Smith, Ollie Holiday; Harry Bazalgette (Kyle McGhie 67), Matty Jones (Mike Austin 53); Harry Edwards (James Gibbons 67), Will Crane © (Ethan Hunt 53), Ollie Minnis (Michael Fankar 4-10, 67); Cam Cobbett, Jack Davies; Sam Lewis (Carn Richards-Farr 56), Harry Short (Ellis Hart 67), Jarryd Hayler.

Referee: Tom Foley (RFU)

Attendance: 8,445

Half-time: 26 – 03 (to Exeter)

Star players: Josh Hodge (Exeter) / Harry Bazalgette (Hartpury)

Stats:

EXETER / HARTPURY