Hartpury RFC vs Ealing Trailfinders

Match Report

Ealing Trailfinders beat Hartpury University RFC 36-28 at the ALPAS Arena to continue their perfect start to the Championship campaign.

 

Tries from Rayn Smid (2), Billy Twelvetrees, Jonah Holmes, Olly Newman and Matt Cornish secured the victory in a tightly contested game.

 

Hartpury opened the scoring early on, Harry Bazalgette slotting the penalty through the posts to give the home side the lead.

 

Trailfinders responded quickly, with Rayn Smid scoring the first try of the game, powering over the tryline after successive phases.

 

Within minutes Trailfinders scored again. A brilliant kick through from Reuben Bird-Tulloch found Billy Twelvetrees, who dived on the ball under the posts. Craig Willis added the extras to make the score 12-3.

 

Hartpury reduced the deficit midway through the half. Bazalgette added a further six points from the tee following repeated Trailfinders penalties. It could have been nine, had his third penalty kick in 10 minutes been on target.

 

The home side took the lead with eight minutes to go of the first half, Harry Short scoring off the back of the maul after yet another penalty. Bazalgette’s conversion was successful.

 

In the last play of the half, Trailfinders capitalised off a dominant scrum on the 5-metre-line, and Rayn Smid drove in to score his second try of the day. Willis nailed the conversion, ending the half 19-16.

 

Trailfinders extended their lead 10 minutes into the second half. Reuben Bird-Tulloch ran sideways, creating a two on one on the wing, and then passed it to Jonah Holmes, who scored with a classy finish. Willis was unable to convert.

 

The away side were reduced to 14 men after Willis was sent to the bin, but this did not hamper their efforts. Matt Cornish broke down the blind side, combining with Ollie Newman who crashed over the whitewash. Twelvetrees missed the conversion.

 

Hartpury hit back with a flowing move, leaving Tommy Matthews uncontested to score under the posts. Bazalgette added to his impressive tally with the boot, converting the extras to make the score 29-23.

 

The half continued in back-and-forth fashion. Trailfinders’ Matt Cornish bundled the ball over the try-line after successive phases inside the Hartpury 22. Willis slotted home the conversion.

 

Hartpury then replied again late on in the half, Tommy Matthews with his second try of the day straight from the restart, scoring under the posts in similar fashion to his first. Bazalgette missed the conversion.

 

It was too little, too late for Hartpury. Hartpury knocked on the ball, and the ref blew his whistle for full time. Final score Hartpury RFC 28- 36 Ealing Trailfinders.