Reds ride out early pressure to bring half ton up

JERSEY Reds put Hartpury to the sword, running in seven tries to continue their upward progress in the Championship table.

After watching his side survive a first half spell with 13 players – thanks to yellow cards – to rack up a fourth consecutive win, Reds’ head coach Harvey Biljon was pleased with the result but still felt his team were capable of more.

“We were in a difficult place in the second quarter, but we controlled the game well during that period and scored some great tries,” he said. “There were also some missed opportunities and we’ll look at those and try to keep improving.”

Jersey struck early when Charlie Maddison finished a powerful rolling maul but then Hartpury equalised while Reds winger Ben Foley was in the sin-bin for a dangerous tackle. Sam Leeming launched a crosskick and Harry Cochrane was first to the loose ball to touch down.

A fine run by Koch Marx set up the supporting Calum Waters for the Reds’ second try, but then the visitors saw two players yellow-carded within three minutes – Aaron Penberthy for a deliberate knock-on and skipper Jerry Sexton for dragging down a maul.

The home side looked to cash in, but lost a crucial attacking lineout and the Reds cleared and switched to attack.

After good approach play from Leroy Van Dam, prop Leeroy Atalifo dived over acrobatically from close range, and then James Newey set up Waters for his second just before the break.

The Reds added secondhalf tries through Newey

and a brace from replacement Brett Herron, although Marx also butchered a score of his own as he lost the ball in diving over the line after an interception.

Hartpury didn’t give up, and Leeming added a consolation try near the end, but Hartpury finished the match with 13 men due to injuries, with the Reds also a man down after a yellow card to Max Argyle for a late tackle.

Hartpury director of rugby John Barnes said: “We should have scored against 13 men and squared it up, but they turned us over and went the length.

“Jersey are a very good side, well-drilled and physical, and it was hard to compete with them today.

“It’s difficult with our programme of midweek university rugby and weekends in the Championship, and we don’t have a big squad, but we’ll need to bounce back from this.”