Defeats for Hartpury and Cinderford

HARTPURY slipped down to sixth place in the GKIPA Championship standings following a 42-19 home defeat to Bedford Blues.

The Red & Blacks led early in the second half, but from there on Bedford took charge and ran out comfortable winners.

The Blues took the lead on 22 minutes when Tui Uru drove over, but Ciaran Knight’s superb offload put Robbie Smith in for a swift response.

Hartpury then established a 12-7 advantage with Will Crane being driven over.

Bedford hit back in similar fashion through Reece Marshall to lead 14-12 at the break, but it was soon the Gloucestershire side back in front as Crane notched his second try.

However, it was all Bedford from that point on as Ethan Grayson, Dean Adamson, Jordan Onojaife and Adamson again all ran in tries.

“It was a very disappointing performance after a good start to the season,” Hartpury director of rugby John Barnes said.

“Too much indiscipline and too many individual errors – Bedford were able to dictate that game, particularly after half time.”

Elsewhere, National League One leaders Cinderford fell to their first defeat of the season as promotion rivals Rosslyn Park came from behind to beat the Gloucestershire side 38-31.

The Foresters are still seven points clear at the top of the third tier, although Park have a game in hand on the table-toppers.

Reece Boughton kicked the visitors into an early lead, and his conversion of George Boulton’s try made it 10-7 after Park had scored through Hugo Ellis.

The advantage changed hands throughout the first half, with Jack Gash scoring for the hosts before Nathan Taylor struck back for the away side.

Nick Lovell restored the Rosslyn Park advantage, but Cinderford led 24-19 at the break as Boulton crossed the whitewash and flyhalf Boughton knocked over the extras with aplomb.

However, back rowers Henry Spencer and Ellis again gave the home side a nine-point lead with a little over ten minutes to go.

Cinderford hit back with a penalty try, but Charlie Piper went over to ultimately settled the game in favour of Rosslyn Park.

Taunton Titans, meanwhile, had their match with Birmingham Moseley postponed. The Titans are tenth in the standings, but have games in hand on all the sides above them.

In National League Two South, meanwhile, Dings Crusaders took a morale-boosting victory over lowly Barnstaple.

Dings emerged 48-24 winners over the second-from-bottom Devon outfit.

Clifton, however, were sunk 32-12 away to Esher and are losing touch with the leaders.