Ding-dong battle ends early with fan in hospital

By ANDREW BEACHAM

Hartpury …………31pts

Tries: Eadie 3, Venner 25, S Smith 37, B Foley 42, C Foley 52

Conversions: Williams 4, 38, 43

Jersey …………..40pts

Tries: Van Breda 12, Wynn 20, Doolan 33, Brown 56, Clarke 61, Holgate 70

Conversions: Van Breda 13, 34, 57, 62, 71

THIS entertaining game was somewhat overshadowed by its ending when a spectator requiring emergency evacuation to hospital brought proceedings to an early end.

Almost eight minutes were left on the clock when referee Dan Jones called the game over.

On the field it was an 11-try cracker, with the pragmatic, physical approach of the visitors just edging out the enterprise of a Hartpury team playing with style and confidence.

Jersey DoR Harvey Biljon said: “There was some real ‘university’ rugby from Hartpury with the ball being thrown around and the offloads. I was happy with how we were able to build pressure and get ourselves ahead.”

Hartpury were out of the blocks quickly when Mitch Eadie finished a good counter from Sam Smith following a weak Jersey clearance in just the third minute.

There followed a dingdong half – which ended 19-19 – in which the sides traded scores. Turnover ball allowed Jersey to show their own counterrunning, Scott van Breda opening their account with a try he converted himself. They went ahead on the 20- minute mark when skipper Lewis Wynn scored from a front peel at an attacking lineout, after Hartpury had been penalised in their 22.

Hartpury’s in-form Toby Venner was next to cross, going from halfway after a strong carry from Dale Lemon had created the space. Harry Doolan drove over for his third try in two games to restore the Jersey advantage, before a burst of scoring, either side of the break from Hartpury.

Sam Smith did well to finish an excellent move in the 37th minute and then had a big hand in a superb Ben Foley try early in the second half. When a Charlie Foley score made 31-19 to the hosts a first home victory against the Reds looked on the cards.

But Jersey had the resilience to fight back, mainly through their big pack, although it was winger Will Brown, bouncing out of tackles, who got their first of the half. Eoghan Clarke finished a lineout drive and centre Jason Holgate forced his way over to complete the win.

Hartpury head coach Mark Cornwell said: “We showed some good stuff at times, some very good attack shape, and we earned our tries. But the errors and the penalties which crept in eventually cost us.”