Hartpury end long wait to defeat Pirates

HARTPURY erased the memory of ten straight defeats to the Cornish Pirates with a comprehensive 37-18 victory.

Speaking after the win over over one of the favourites to challenge Ealing Trailfinders for promotion in the Championship this season, head coach, Mark Cornwell said: “I said to boys before kick-off ‘I believe in you, I believe you’re a good side, now you’ve got to believe in yourselves and take it to the Pirates. We’ve been beaten by them year after year and, on many occasions, we’ve let them run all over us and I’ve had enough of it’,” he said.

“Wow, what a response we got from the lads. I thought we were superb in every aspect of the game and, having spoken to them, I know that the Pirates’ coaches agree. The boys were at it defensively, around the set-piece and the breakdown, physically – each and every one of them was outstanding. ”

In National League 1, Cinderford maintained their unbeaten record so far this season, but Cambridge rallied in the secondhalf and made them work hard for the 41-26 victory.

Three tries were scored in the opening eleven minutes. First some quick hands released home scrum-half Mike Austin to score a try, which Reece Boughton converted. The visitors quickly responded with a try from hooker Ben Brownlie, which Joe Tarrant converted, before George Boulton put Cinderford back in front with a try that Boughton again converted.

Play continued to be well contested, before the home went down the blindside and Will Baldwin showed strength to dot down in the corner, with Boughton landing a touchline conversion before kicking a penalty to make it 24-7 at the interval.

Austin scored his second try for Cinderford early in the secondhalf, which Boughton again converted. However, Cambridge continued to pose problems with their driving maul and replied with tries from Kieran Frost and a second from Brownlie.

Jack Preece stole over for the home team’s fifth try after 68 minutes, but once again the visitors refused to give up and Brownlie completed his ‘hat-trick’ from another maul, which Tarrant converted.

Cinderford had to defend in the closing stages, but turnover ball and a kick ahead set up an attacking position and Boughton’s cross-field kick was caught by Tim Andrew and his try completed the scoring.

Elsewhere in League 1, Tauton Titans suffered a 26-22 defeat away to Brtishop’s Stortford.

In National League 2 South, Dings Crusaders saw off visitors Bury St Edmunds 33-27 while Dings’ fellow Bristol club Clifton suffered an agonising 28-27 loss away to Henley Hawks.