Hartpury RFC 07 vs Cornish Pirates 14
Scorers:
Hartpury:
Tries: Will Crane 39
Conversions: Harry Bazalgette 40
Penalties:
Drop goals:
Cornish Pirates:
Tries: Matt Johnson 16, penalty try 31
Conversions: Bruce Houston 17
Penalties:
Drop goals:
Referee: Joe James
Touch judges: Kevin Williams & James Milliner-Woodcock
4th official: Steve Leyshon
Attendance: 2,474
Man of the Match: Will Trewin (Pirates) /
Stats:
Cornish Pirates:
Penalties conceded: 11
Line-outs won: 6
Line-outs lost: 2
Scrums won: 8
Scrums lost: 0
Sin-bin/red: 1/0
Hartpury RFC:
Penalties conceded: 12
Line-outs won: 15
Line-outs lost: 5
Scrums won: 4
Scrums lost: 3
Sin-bin/red: 3/0
-ENDS-
Report:
Pirates come out in nail-biting battle against hard-working Hartpury
By Tom Johnson
Two days before Christmas and neither Hartpury University RFC or the Cornish Pirates were going to let on they were looking forward to the holiday period after a fiercely contested game which saw Pirates come out on top, 14-7.
The score at halftime was the same as Hartpury tried their best to score the levelling try but were unable to do so against a rock solid Pirates defence.
Both teams squandered chances to add to their tallies throughout the game where finesse was an issue on a cold, boggy day at The Mennaye Field.
Cornish opened the scoring in the 19th minute when Matt Johnson forced his way over the line. Another carry, after a drawn out attack that saw Cornish inside Hartpury’s 10m line for close to high minutes, saw Johnson awarded his second of the day through a penalty try.
Both tries were successfully converted making the score 14-0 after 33 minutes played.
Hartpury were able to claw back a try back just before halftime with Will Crane, Harry Bazalgette successfully converted.
The second half had to be seen. Both teams showed the desire to win but it was Cornish who showed their dominance and sturdiness at the face of a passionate Hartpury doing everything for the win.
The next 40 minutes would see neither team score but that didn’t restrict the action. The first 10 minutes of the half were quite cagey with both teams playing a round of kick tennis but then things changed and Cornish tried to inject some tempo into the game with some quick breaks from their backs.
Hartpury retaliated valiantly countering when they had the opportunity and playing good basic rugby. It was a forwards’ game in the end where some crucial substitutions from Hartpury saw them hold steadfast in the face of a ferocious opposition.
End score Cornish Pirates 14-7 Hartpury University RFC.
-ENDS-
Post match quotes:
Hartpury director of rugby John Barnes was proud with team’s attitude going into the second half on a tough day.
He said: “It was a pretty wet, heavy boggy pitch where really we saw an attritional battle between the two sides.
“It was a proud display by our defence but unfortunately they came out on top.
“We had a number of chances to level in the second half but we just didn’t take them and that’s what Pirates’ advantage was at the end of the day.
“We overplayed in the first 20 minutes and that’s what they got their points from but we went in at halftime and said ‘that’s not the best way to play rugby, let’s sort this out.
“After the break, we really gave them a tough game. We’ve got some time off for Christmas but I think we’ll use that and prepare for a tough game against Caldy as much as possible.”
Cornish Pirates co-head coach Alan Paver was just as happy with his team’s performance and will take confidence following his team coming out on top in a very tightly contested game.
He said: “I think both sides were evenly matched. There was little between them, we had a wind advantage in the first half and we used that to our advantage with our kicking game.
“We didn’t take all our opportunities in the first half and then Hartpury got the crucial try just before the break. It was maybe against the run of play but it set up for a great second half where there was nothing between us.
“We will take confidence that we can come away from a tough game like that with a win.”
Teams (15-9; 1-8):
Hartpury: Jake Morris, Jack Johnson, Robbie Smith, Morgan Adderly-Jones (Tommy Mathews, 38), Jack Reeves (Brad Denty, 79), Harry Bazalgette, Mike Austin (Matty Jones, 22-27, 79); Mikey Summerfield (Toti Benz-Salomon, 42), Will Crane (c), Joe Rees (Jonny Benz-Salomon, 42), Dale Lemon (Joe Owen, 57), Jack Davies, Sam Lewis, Harry Short (Josh Gray, 57), Mitch Eadie.
Replacements not used: Will Goffey.
Yellow cards: Mitch Eadie 15, Mikey Summerfield 31, Jack Davies 79.
Cornish Pirates: Will Trewin, Matt McNab, Tom Georgiou, Joe Elderkin, Robin Wedlake, Bruce Houston (Iwan Jenkins, 71), Alex Schwarz (Ruaridh Dawson, 66); Lefty Zigiriadis (Jacob Morris, 57), Morgan Nelson (Rhys Williams, 64), Matt Johnson (Marlen Walker, 57), Hugh Bokenham (Josh Williams, 68), Steele Barker, Alex Everett, Will Gibson (Harry Dugmore, 68), John Stevens (c).
Replacements not used: Frankie Nowell.
Yellow cards: Tom Georgiou 38
