Nottingham 17-21 Hartpury                                                        

Bazalgette’s boot gives Hartpury a first Premiership Cup victory

by Paul Smith

Nottingham outscored Hartpury by three tries to two but it was Harry Bazalgette’s accuracy from the kicking tee that tipped this round two Premiership Rugby Cup tie in the visitors’ direction.

After Jarrard Hayler and Alex Morgan crossed for first half tries, Hartpury’s no.10 kicked a conversion and two penalties before giving way to replacement Nathan Chamberlain who slotted a third.

Despite the home side’s replacement hooker Harry Clayton crossing twice in the closing stages to supplement Jacob Wright’s early score this gave the visitors enough of a cushion to hang on in a tense finish.

Hartpury were off to the best possible start when powerhouse no.8 Hayler forced his way over after cutting a good line on to an Oscar Lennon pass.

Bazalgette added the conversion but the visitors’ lead was brief since Nottingham soon put the first penalty of the match to the corner then drove flanker Wright over for an unconverted try.

Lennon looked dangerous with ball in hand and twice broke inside the home 22 before being caught by last-ditch tackles.

Hayler initiated a move from deep inside his own half that was continued by some good support before home full back Ellis Mee read a chip ahead well enough to call a comfortable mark.

Hartpury looked the more threatening side throughout the second quarter and it was no surprise when full back Morgan extended their lead with a neat finish.

Bazalgette missed the conversion but his subsequent 35-metre penalty left the visitors holding a 5-15 interval advantage.

Nottingham missed a golden opportunity to get back in the game when Marcus Ramage knocked on with the line at his mercy after the visitors failed to deal with a testing high ball.

Bazelgette then extended Hartpury’s advantage with a second simple 35-metre kick before Nottingham lost the ball forward in contact when seemingly poised to score at the end of a flowing attack.

The arrival of their bench galvanised the hosts and after David Williams broke from deep and Sam Hollingsworth provided support some good handling eventually put Clayton in the corner.

Hollingsworth’s conversion hit the post but his opposite number Chamberlain soon split the uprights from 25 metres to give Hartpury a 10-21 advantage.

Clayton then went over for a second time in the dying minutes and after Hollingsworth added the extras Nottingham scented opportunity.

Hartpury lost replacement Charlie Rice to the sinbin for a high tackle but when the Archers roused themselves for a big finish the visitors forced the turnover which clinched the spoils.

Hartpury head coach Mark Cornwell pronounced himself satisfied by a win which he said left his club with plenty to work on. 

“It was a win but we we're a bit rusty at times, which we expected playing only our second game in five months.

“There were big improvements from last week – defensively we got off the line well and knocked them about - but we need to align that with better discipline", he said.

Nottingham 17-21 Hartpury

Scorers & Times:

Nottingham:

Tries: Wright (7), Clayton (69) (78)

Cons: Hollingsworth (78)

Pens:

Hartpury:

Tries: Hayler (4), Morgan (29)

Cons: Bazalgette (4)

Pens: Bazalgette (37) (48), Chamberlain (74)

Line-Ups:

Nottingham: Mee; Williams, Green (Graham,63), Tiueti, Ramage; Bunting (Hollingsworth,59), Stronge (Yarnell,59-73); Owen (Sio, 50), Dickinson (Clayton, 50), Valentine (Bridges, 50); Maloney-Fiola (Ferreira, 50), Joussin; Hall, Wright (Green,56), Clift

Hartpury: Morgan; Ward, Smith (Mathews,69), Tarling, Denty; Bazalgette (Chamberlain,52), Lennon (Randell,69); Soloman (Jewell,69), Crane (Hunt,52), Rees (R.Davies,62); Cobbett (Rice,52), J.Davies; Lewis, Hart (Beddall,58), Hayler

Replacements not used: N/A

Referee: Richard Gordon

Attendance: 858

Star man: Jarrard Hayler (Hartpury)

Half-time: Nottingham 5-15 Hartpury