Hartpury lads retain title with late killer blow from Stratford

WEDNESDAY’S Twickenham final will surely be reflected upon as one of the greats after Hartpury’s last gasp 27-24 victory over Cardiff Met ensured the Gloucester sid retained the trophy.

Having trailed 20-3 at the break, Cardiff Met responded to take the lead 24-20 only for Luke Stratford to score in the final play.

Winning captain Tom Pashley saluted the character of his men. He said: “It’s a reflection of our season, digging deep when the times are bad and fair play to the lads for sticking in there.”

Met’s missing ingredient in the first half was composure while Hartpury mercilessly executed every chance with assassin like precision.

Sam Leeming got the defending Champions ticking with a simple penalty, but his counterpart Harry Johnston failed to return fire pushing his effort wide moments later.

Met’s offloading game was reaping rewards as they twice unlocked Hartpury’s disciplined defence down the left. But twice they failed to capitalise and found themselves 10-0 down when Nick Carpenter and Ben George combined to unleash Maliq Holden to cantor in.

Flawless Leeming struck another penalty before Holden turned provider, burning his opposite man from his own 22 and feeding Alex Forrester, who streaked away from Corey Whane’s clutches.

Johnston provided a glimmer of hope with a successful penalty just before half-time and his team turned it into a beam of belief after the break in a period that upended the game.

First Max Llewellyn carved through the midfield to set the platform for Harry Seward to burrow over, then a minute later Luke Northmore bisected the defence to allow Aled Ward to reach the line. The next try brought the house down.

As Ward plunged to the floor under the weight of two Hartpury tacklers, he freed his right hand to slip the ball to MOM Alex Dombrandt. With three defenders in pursuit he produced an exquisite one-handed reverse flick to Jac Arthur who stretched for one of the great BUCS tries.

With Johnston converting all three, the score was 20-24 as Hartpury laid siege to the Welshmen’s line. Met’s immovable defence stood resolute until the very last play when they succumbed to Hartpury’s irresistible forward force.

Stratford emerged with the ball to crown Hartpury back to back Champions.

Losing coach Danny Milton said: “Every time we’ve asked these boys to step up this season they’ve done it. We haven’t closed it out, but I can’t fault them. I’m proud of every single one of them.”