Cardiff Met’s superb fightback falls short in agonising fashion
CARDIFF Met’s scintillating comeback came close to bringing them a stunning triumph over Hartpury College in the BUCS Super Rugby final at Twickenham.
The Archers were 20 points behind after 36 minutes, but produced some blistering running rugby befitting of a college which has produced world stars like Sir Gareth Edwards, JJ Williams and John Devereux.
They scored 24 unanswered points in 21 minutes to move into a 24-20 lead but conceded too many penalties during the final minutes.
They were reduced to 14 players following the sin-binning of prop Harry Seward for pulling down a maul, but looked to have escaped after Hartpury were penalised seconds later.
Met won the line-out, but boxkicked possession away with the clock counting down instead of hanging onto the ball.
Hartpury ran it back and an illegal clothes-line tackle gave them a chance to kick to the corner, win the line-out and roll their way over the line for the winning score.
Archers director of rugby Danny Milton said: “Every time we have asked the boys to step up all year they have done it.
“We haven’t closed it out but I am proud of every single player. We
HARTPURY COLLEGE... 27 CARDIFF MET.................24
want BUCS Super Rugby to grow and grow – hopefully this was a great advert for that.”
Met’s Harlequins-bound lock Alex Dombrandt scooped the official man of the match award for the impact he made in the loose with his ripping of the ball, speed, timing, power and off-loading skills.
“It’s bitter-sweet,” he said. “I would have liked to have finished with a match trophy. We have got a talented group of lads, great coaches and a superb rugby programme.”
Holders Hartpury had confidently raced into the lead, but Met’s incredible response and finger-tip handling brought stunning tries for Seward, former Wales Under-18 captain and Wales Under-20 international Aled Ward and substitute back-rower Jac Arthur.
First-year outside-half Harry Johnston’s three conversions and penalty edged the Archers in front but they couldn’t hold on.
Tries: M Holden, A Forrester, H Wilson; cons: S Leeming (3); pens: Leeming (2).
Tries: H Seward, A Ward, J Arthur; cons: H Johnston (3); pen: Johnston.
Hartpury: Cardiff Met: