CAMBRIDGE FINISH SEASON AT ELLGIA FIELDS ON A LOW AGAINST HARTPURY

HT 7-35 FT 14-70

Hartpury romped home with all five points at Grantchester Road in what was an unusually one-sided encounter as Cambridge failed, for the most part, to turn up to their own end-of-season party.

After weathering early resistance Mark Cornwell’s side took control 3 minutes in through Cameron Cobbett. Hooker Will Crane compounded their dominance 12 minutes later. Both were converted by the excellent Harry Bazalgette, who was 100 percent off the tee all afternoon, and Hartpury never relinquished their lead. Cornwell was more than content with his side’s efforts on a blistering afternoon, saying, “It was perfect conditions to play rugby – I know it’s hot but the boys ran the ball around well. It was a pleasing performance and Harry pulled the strings and kicked well. He varied his game quite well – and we scored some decent tries out there today”.

Their third score arrived via centre Rob Smith from Bazalgette’s pass – the bonus point was secured by wing Oli Holliday’s finish. Cambridge pulled one back through debutant Billy Pasco, who managed to bust his way over the line for Ruaridh Dawson to convert but with half time looming, Dan Eckersley was yellow carded for an adjudged dangerous defensive tackle and the resulting penalty try made the second half academic.

With a man advantage after the break, Hartpury proceeded to extend their lead in short order, Cobbett again touching down. Bazalgette got one himself to round off a perfect day before the unlucky Eckersley burrowed over to make amends for his earlier yellow.

Then replacement hooker Louis Trevitt got in on the act. Wing Charlie Powell scorched in for another. And Holliday’s second of the afternoon was just deserts for him, too, on a day when Craig Newby’s side just didn’t have an answer to the visitors’ organisation and clinical finishing.

Newby was sanguine after the game, saying, “Hartpury showed good running rugby and a high level of execution of basic skills. Their ball-carrying, placement, catch-pass was excellent – ours was way off where we need to be in the Champ. We’re being found out really – we’re creating a few things and we don’t have the skill set to finish them. We’re learning some hard lessons at the pointy end of the season from sides who’re building momentum for the play offs. We’ve got a lot of work to do ahead of next season. Today I think some guys are looking at next season – whether they’re here or not – and that’s why you get days like today”.

Teams

Cambridge

Currie 7, Green 6 (Allan 40 7), Pasco 7, Sorrell 6, Thorne 6 (Rokodrava 56 5), Mausia 7, Dawson 7; Ellwood 6 (Maka 64 6), Doorey-Palmer 6 (Plunkett 64 5), Masoe 6 (Rossouw 64 6), McCay 6 (Friend 64 5), Baxter 7, Fulford 6 (Thomas 56 6), Eckersley 7, Adams 6 (Johnson 42 6)

Hartpury

Denty 7 (Forrester 40 7), Powell 8, Smith7  Allsopp 7 (Knight 58 7), Holliday 8, Bazalgette 9,  Price 8 (Gealy 68); Bellamy 7 (Trevett 41 7), Crane 7 (Knowles 62 7), Benz-Salomon 7 (Gibson 51 7), Lemon 7, Davies 7, Murray 7 (Perry 72), Taylor 7 (Hart 64 7), Cobbett 8

Scorers

Cambridge

Tries Pasco 38, Eckersley 58

Conversions – Dawson 39, 59

Hartpury

Tries — Corbett 3, 46; Crane 13, Smith 30, Holliday 33, 74; penalty try 40; Bazalgette 51, Trevett 54, Powell 70,

Conversions – Bazalgette 4, 14, 31, 34, 52, 55, 71, 74