Students in danger of being cut adrift

ULTIMATELY this was another disappointing performance from Hartpury, who made it all too easy for the Knights to wrap up a convincing victory, with a second half full of errors.

It leaves Hartpury rooted to the foot of the table, six points adrift of Richmond.

Doncaster director of rugby Clive Griffiths hailed his side’s character after securing their second successive win.

After a trying start to the campaign, Griffiths said: “It’s a much better place to be. There’s a ‘never say die’ attitude in this group. People might occasionally question our execution, but there’s heart in bucket loads in our squad.”

In an evenly balanced opening period, Knights took an early lead when Ollie Stedman picked a good line onto Colin Quigley’s offload for a stroll in from the 22.

Dougie Flockhart added the first of eight successful kicks in a flawless display off the tee.

Shortly afterwards however he collected a yellow card for an off the ball tackle on Jake Henry, following a good break from Hartpury’s Jamie Forrester.

A man up, Hartpury took advantage and Fijian backrower Akapusi Qera touched down from the resulting line-out drive. Cozens’ kick made it all square at 7-7.

Both sides frequently opted to kick and shortly before half-time, Hartpury’s badly organised chase allowed the Knights room to launch a counter down the left. Tyson Lewis had Tom James in support for the score.

Early in the second half Hartpury’s chase was again at fault as Lewis squirmed away from three would-be tacklers. The move carried on for Civetta to bundle over from close range.

But Hartpury’s driving lineout worked again to bring them back to within seven points with Cozens converting Iain Grieve’s try.

But hope was short-lived. Hartpury handed over the ball in contact deep in their own half and Stedman jogged in for his second simple finish.

Flockhart landed a longrange penalty after Hartpury were penalised for holding on and further tries came from James, his second, and replacement hooker, Michael Mayhew.

Hartpury did produce a late rally, which resulted in a penalty try after yet another drive was pulled down, but it was Flockhart who ended the scoring with a last minute penalty.

“I was pleased with our performance in the first half,” said Hartpury boss John Barnes. “But then our kick chase let us down twice and suddenly we’re 21-7 down. We need to look at how we attack, at the moment there’s no threat.”