Hero Holsey’s late rumble levels game for Hartpury

PROP Lewis Holsey proved the hero as Hartpury produced a stellar second-half display to come back from 19-7 to set up a winner takes all second leg on Friday.

On paper the sides couldn’t be more different but there was little to choose between them.

Jersey’s pros were in command for the first half-an-hour but the university side scored twice through full-back George Simpson and Holsey to draw and delight head coach Mark Cornwell.

Cornwell said: “The boys are battered, that was physical! Jersey are very direct and every collision I could feel on the sidelines.

“We knew what Jersey would bring, they’ve done it all year with their set-piece, and our boys stepped up. But I’ve got some bruised bodies and they’ll need rest before next week.”

Hartpury started strong with centre Rob Smith touching down after some stylish passes – but it was chalked off for a forward pass.

Jersey’s Scott Van Breda was sin-binned for a high tackle but despite being a man down, Reds went ahead. Two turnovers, the second by skipper Lewis Wynne, led to fly-half Brendan Cope linking up with Jack Roberts who unleashed Brendan Owen to sprint down the left flank to score.

Hartpury then utilised the man advantage, putting a string of phases together before scrum-half Oscar Lennon’s perfectly weighted chip put Alex Forrester in for the try.

Van Breda made up for his sin-binning with two tries in six minutes. Cope’s break set up the first and the second was after a fast break by Owen, piercing Hartpury’s defence with No.9 James Mitchell and Cope providing quick ball wide for Van Breda.

Reds looked in command but dissent by Max Argyle pinned them back and from a ten-metre lineout Hartpury’s James Williams whipped the ball wide for Simpson to score.

Hartpury nilled Jersey in the second-half – the first to do that since Pirates six games ago – and replacement Holsey scored after several phases from a five-metre lineout to level.

Jersey DoR Harvey Biljon said: “It was tough, we had our chances and didn’t execute, but we got a good look at Hartpury. We’ll make a few tweaks and we’re ready for a winner takes all at St Peter’s.”