Exiles flick attacking switch to hit a big six
LONDON Irish collected a bonus point win despite a spirited performance from the home side.
Strong in defence and clinical with ball in hand, Irish were good value for their victory, while Hartpury will be disappointed that a solitary try was their only reward for plenty of possession.
Exiles head coach Les Kiss said: “It was a good, hard tussle. We got the bonus point in the first half, but Hartpury came out fighting after the break.
“Our defence had to work hard tonight, but we did that well and were able to put up a good score-line in the end.”
The match was played in good conditions and Irish got the scoreboard moving with two tries in the opening quarter.
An early attacking lineout – after an injury to Exiles’ hooker Motu Matu’u – was a little scrappy, but the visitors recovered the ball and wing Matt Williams was quick to exploit a gap in the home defence.
The second came after Hartpury had controlled the ball for a long period and illustrated the difference between the teams.
While Hartpury struggled to make headway despite phase after phase of possession, Irish launched a lightning counter through Luke McLean and Topsy Ojo, producing an easy finish for No.9 Ben Meehan.
Pace was again important minutes later, when McLean ended a kicking duel by floating a pass to centre, Tom Stephenson. He had the wheels to run 30metres to the corner.
Hartpury continued to battle and – after a series of attacking penalties that eventually brought a card for Irish lock Franco van de Merwe – prop Dan Murphy drove over.
Hartpury were still in the game at 19-5, but Irish scored again before the break – replacement Dave Porecki crossing after Irish had recovered the restart.
The second half was a more even affair, with Hartpury again seeing plenty of the ball but Irish still looking more likely to score. Tries at either end of the half, from Ojo and Scott Steele, sealed the result.
Hartpury director of rugby John Barnes said: “As expected, it was a tough game. We won’t face a better team this season and we fought well for the full 80.”