Rugby round-up: Hartpury edged out; Cinderford face drop; League's promotion joy; Community Cup and Combination Cup reviews; upcoming fixtures

CHAMPIONSHIP

A late try condemned Hartpury to a 30-25 loss to Cornish Pirates.

The opening period started brightly for Hartpury, as in the second minute full-back George Barton made it to the line for a try.

Pirates opened their account, when Hartpury were penalised at the breakdown as fly-half Bruce Houston kicked a penalty and they led when a penalty award saw Houston opt for the corner, from where hooker Harry Hocking found his man at an attacking line-out opportunity and then, following a drive, Hocking was identified as the scorer of an unconverted try (5-8).

Hartpury lost captain Will Crane to the sin bin, but a Harry Bazalgette penalty would level matters, only for Pirates to lead again when skipper John Stevens scored a try to which Houston added the extras.

The first half scoring didn’t stop there, as Matt McNab went over to make it 22-8.

Early in the second period, Hartpury were awarded a penalty try and within the space of 11 minutes the Pirates were shown three yellow cards.

From a lineout drive, Hartpury’s Ethan Hunt scored a converted try at the posts and a superb penalty by Bazalgette put Hartpury 25-22 up.

But Pirates’ replacement fly-half Tom Pittman landed a penalty to level matters, and an unconverted try scored by replacement prop Jacob Morris settled the contest.

NATIONAL ONE

Cinderford’s six-year journey in National League One rugby looks to be coming to an end after they were beaten 37-31 by Taunton Titans at Veritas Park.

The Forest team looked to be well placed 19-10 ahead after half an hour, but the home team hit back to lead at the interval and then raced 37-19 ahead before Cinderford scored a couple more tries to earn themselves two bonus points.

Louis Sinclair opened the scoring with a penalty for the Titans, but Cinderford responded with tries from Tom Knight and Sam Smith, both converted by Jake Shortland.

The home team replied with a try from Will Vaughan, which Sinclair converted, before Nathan Taylor extended Cinderford’s lead with an unconverted try.

Back came Taunton however, with a second penalty from Sinclair and he converted a try from Francisco Diaz-Dart to give his team a 20-19 lead at the interval.

A superb individual try from Oscar Stewart set the tone as the Titans raced ahead, with Sam Leworthy also going over, and Sinclair added both conversions along with a third penalty.

Cinderford responded with tries from Mike Wilcox, which Tom Knight converted and a second from Taylor, but time ran out on their comeback.

REGIONAL LEAGUES/CUPS

Gordon League clinched promotion from the Counties 2 Gloucestershire leagues with a 25-20 success over Bream in their promotion play-off.

Bream, the south division champions, led north division title-holders League 15-5 at half-time, Kaian Buhagiar crossing for League, but second-half scores from George Boughton and Luke McMahon, who also kicked two conversions and a penalty, sealed the win for League.

Ben ‘Joner’ Jones, Elliott Teague and Liam Brady crossed for Bream with Aaron Ryder kicking a conversion and a penalty.

League’s win also puts them into the next round of the Counties 2 Championship cup competition, and they now travel to Cornish side Saltash on Saturday.

In the same competition, Old Patesians face a trip to the Isle of Wight in the second round, to face Sandown & Shanklin, after they beat Melksham 29-19.

Archie Long scored two tries, with one each for Ollie Stephens and Wyatt Dundas, with Sam Rhymes converting three and adding a penalty.

In pool four of the Regional 1 Plate competition, Lydney started with a 36-13 win over HUEL Tring.

They got off to the worst start possible, gifting Tring a try, but Brad Dunn's try, converted by Brad Barnes, levelled the scores..

Tring went back in front at 13-7 with two penalties, but Lydney took the half-time lead with Dunn evading numerous tackles to run from his own half scoring under the posts, Barnes converting.

In the second half a clearance kick was charged down by Riley Scriven and he collected the loose ball to score, and again Barnes slotted the conversion, then added a penalty for a 24-13 lead.

Kyle Frowen added the next try, and the win was rounded off with a try for Henry Sleeman, converted by Barnes.

Stow-on-the-Wold lost 61-26 to Northampton Old Scouts in Regional 2 Championship, pool two, scoring tries through Toby Stayt (two), Cameron Tyler and Sam Cotton, Charlie Slatter with three conversions.

Newent produced an excellent all-round performance to edge past Chippenham 38-28, to get their pool four campaign off to the best of starts.

They were ahead within two minutes through a Tom Webb penalty, and the first try followed, Webb releasing Jack Devries for a clear run-in, and converting.

Ben Vincent then charged through to score by the posts, and Webb’s conversion took the score to 17-0.

Rich Townsend was next to cross for Newent, Webb converting, but Chippenham were stung into a strong response with a converted try.

Newent came straight back with the bonus-point try, Vincent once again crashing through would-be tacklers to touch down and Webb’s conversion made the score 31-7.

Chippenham claimed the restart to set up another attacking opportunity and scored a converted try for a half-time score of 31-14.

The second half was less than two minutes old when Chippenham reduced the deficit further with a converted score and the deficit was three points at 31-28 when they crossed for their bonus-point try.

But when Chippenham were penalised at a ruck in midfield. Harry Tovey drilled the ball to touch and from the lineout the ball was spun to Vincent, who broke several tackles and crashed over under the posts, Webb’s conversion putting Newent at the top of the table after one round of games in a very competitive pool – with home games against Winchester and Royal Wotton Bassett to come.

Cheltenham cleared the first hurdle as they defeated Hereford 47-7 in the first round of the Regional 2 North Plate.

Cheltenham scored five tries through Brandon Springett, Stan Folks-Underhill, Joe Warner, and two from winger Jack Hanks, with the boot of Curtis Neal adding three conversions and a penalty to give a half time lead of 37-0.

Following the break the visitors crossed for a converted try but Cheltenham added two more tries via Omar Ly and Ryan Cengiz, with Neal adding a further penalty to give Cheltenham the win, and book a home tie with Lutterworth on Saturday.

Old Centralians will host Drybrook in the Regional 2 South Plate after winning 57-5 at Witney, Jevon Brown scoring five tries.

Cents led 28-0 at half time and kept the momentum in the second half, with other tries from Dan Tyler, Mike Mathers, Luke Jones and Geraint Evans with Harry Preece converting six of them.

Drybrook were handed a walkover by Chosen Hill, and this will be the third time they have met Cents this season, Cents winning both of the others.

Longlevens host Swanage and Wareham in the second round of the Counties 1 Championship after winning 34-30 at Ledbury.

Mike Yorke scored Levens’ first try, but fell 8-7 behind to a try and penalty.

Jack Cuthbert then crossed twice to open up a 21-8 lead, then Steve Phillips extended the lead further with another converted try.

But Ledbury scored three unanswered tries, two unconverted to make the score 28-25, with the Griffins conceding two yellow cards.

The boot of Brad Wilkins added two penalties before Ledbury bagged a last try of their own to make the last few minutes a tense affair, but the Griffins held out.

In the Counties 2 South Plate , Cheltenham North travel to Smiths after their 32-12 win over Gosford All Blacks.

North set the pace right from the off with two tries and a conversion, and went on to win with Will Allenby scoring a hat-trick, while Smiths were given a walkover by Coney Hill.

Hucclecote will face Stroud after they edged out Old Richians 24-20, with tries for Charles Cooke, Brad Harris, Jon Hogg and Regi-Lee Alexander, Harris converting two.

Connor Galling, Luke Carr and Niki Godsell went over for Richians, the extras from Ewan Jones‘ boot.

Dean Tattersall and Harry Lightfoot scored hat-tricks for Stroud as they beat Minety 62-17.

Harry Cadwaller-Rowles, Sam Hester - who also kicked six conversions - Joe Ashenford and Connor Horlock scored the others.

There are two county derbies in the Counties 2 South Shield , as Brockworth host Cirencester and Old Cryptians are at home to Dursley.

Brockworth won 46-15 at Oldfield Old Boys, as Kurtis Herbert scored four tries and Alfie Burns two, with five tries. converted by George Gladding, who also kicked two penalties.

Cryptians edged out Berry Hill 5-3 with James Allen scoring their try.

Tewkesbury travel to Harbury in the Counties 3 & Below Championship second round after they beat CCS Warpigs 26-10.

Jack Beard, Brendan Llewelyn, Tom Cane and Archie Walsh scored their tries, with Llewelyn kicking three conversions, while Oli Wilton and Angus Guthrie scored the Warpigs’ tries.

Gloucester Old Boys will host Broad Plain after being handed a walkover win over Southmead.

Ross-on-Wye conceded their Counties 3 & Below South Plate tie at Old Sulians.

In league games, Cinderford United led Clifton II 50-0 in Counties 1 Western North when Clifton conceded at half-time after they suffered a raft of injuries.

Reuben Hinds (two), Paddy Hinds, Jack Hopson, Sam Allford, Danny Pointon, Tom Reynolds and Jonny Holliday scored their tries, with Pointon kicking five conversions.

Cinderford are awaiting a decision as to whether their final match against Clevedon will go ahead, which could see them win the league for a second successive year.

But it looks like they will again be denied promotion if they do win the title, as second XVs cannot play at regional league level.

In Counties 3 Gloucestershire North , Bredon Star were 42-15 winners at Painswick, with tries for Henry Tarrant and Tolly Wilson (two each), Reece Dickenson and Will Wilson, Tarrant kicking six conversions.

Longlevens II were 61-17 winners over Minchinhampton, where there was an impressive debut from colt L Murphy who helped himself to a hattrick and another Colt Alfi Lane grabbed two tries, with scores for Jaiden Vance, Jack Muncaster, Luca Parry and another Colt Harry Morris.

Cinderford Stags were handed a Counties 4 Gloucestershire North walkover against Cheltenham II, but finish as runners-up and should be promoted to Counties 3 North.

COMBINATION CUPS

Matson will meet Old Centralians in the North Gloucester Combination Senior Cup final at Kingsholm on May 5.

Matson were 24-10 winners over Chosen Hill in Tuesday’s semi-final, Chosen Hill opening the scoring with a penalty, but Matson scored tries through Tom Porter, Tom Collier, and Jack Hayes, one converted by Connor Gwilliam, for a 17-3 lead.

They scored a second-half try through Aaron Morefield, converted by Gwilliam, with Chosen adding a converted try.

Cents beat a battling Hucclecote side 53-7 with tries for Dionty King (two), Sol Farrer (two), Luke Forsythe, Luke Jones, Ben Preece, Harry Preece and Wayne Mulhern with Preece converting four tries.

Wednesday saw the Junior Cup quarter-finals, where Matson II were 45-7 winners over Widden Old Boys.

Joe Stokes, Jack Knight, Ryan Woodhouse (three) and Charlie Woodhouse were among the try scorers with four Brooke Turner conversions.

Gordon League II edged through 19-17 at Coney Hill II, while Brockworth squeezed out Longlevens II 28-26 and Gloucester Old Boys were given a walkover win over Hucclecote II.

Bream II will face Cinderford IV in the Forest Combination Minor Cup final at Drybrook on May 3 (6.30pm) after beating Drybrook III 28-22 on Saturday.

Clark Osell, Mike Smithers, Ollie Thomas and Todd Morris scored their tries, Thomas kicking two penalties and Barrett a conversion.

Jonty Parry crossed twice for Drybrook, with a try for Jack Freeman, with Jake Hale kicking two conversions and a penalty.

Drybrook II travel to Cinderford III in the Forest Combination Junior Cup semi-final on Friday.

They were 10-5 winners over Berry Hill with a try for Ben Casey and a penalty and conversion for Andrew Milner.

The semi-final winners face Bream in the final at Berry Hill on Saturday May 4.

Drybrook host Cinderford United next Wednesday in the Senior Cup semi-final (6:30pm kick off), the winners facing Newent in the final.

In the Stroud Combination , Dursley beat Stroud 29-24 in the Senior Cup with tries for Henry Scott, Jake Ward, Simon Camm and Charlie Davison, who converted three tries and kicked a penalty.

The competition is a round-robin, with Cirencester having games to play against Stroud and Dursley.

Fairford are through to the Junior Cup final after their 30-17 win over Dursley II, and meet Painswick or Minchinhampton, who are due to meet on Saturday.

Keelan Little, Dan McDermott, Harri Cummings and Sam Filmer scored their tries, with Cummings converting two and also kicking two penalties.

Tom Smith scored two tries for Dursley, the other from Mike Nash, Ozzie Bury with a conversion.

In the Bill Adams Cup , Dursley III beat Wotton 25-12 with tries from Colts Ollie Jackson, Freddie Brown and Lucas Harrell, Greant Boucher with three conversions and three penalties, and meet Cirencester II in the semi-final on Saturday.

Smiths II are through to the Cheltenham Combination Junior Cup semi-finals, with a walkover against Gloucestershire Police.

They meet CCS Warpigs, who beat Cheltenham II 44-22 on Wednesday, Townsend, Wilton, Cole, Moss, Jones, Davies and Harwood scoring their tries, with three conversions from Cooke, who also kicked a penalty.

Stow II face Cheltenham North this weekend in another Junior Cup quarter-final tie.

FIXTURES

Friday, April 19

Forest Combination Junior Cup, semi-final: Cinderford III v Drybrook II (7pm)

Saturday April 20

Premiership: Saracens v Gloucester

Regional 1 Plate Pool 4: Old Northamptonians v Lydney

Regional 2 Championship Pool 2: Stow-on-the-Wold v Lichfield

Regional 2 Championship Pool 4: Newent v Winchester

Regional 2 North Plate, round two: Cheltenham v Lutterworth

Regional 2 South Plate, round two: Old Centralians v Drybrook

Counties 1 Championship, round two: Longlevens v Swanage & Wareham

Counties 2 Championship, round two: Saltash v Gordon League, Sandown & Shanklin v Old Patesians

Counties 2 South Plate, round two: Hucclecote v Stroud, Smiths Rugby v Cheltenham North

Counties 2 South Shield, round two: Brockworth v Cirencester, Old Cryptians v Dursley

Counties 3 & Below Championship, round two: Gloucester Old Boys v Broad Plain, Harbury v Tewkesbury

Cheltenham Combination Junior Cup quarter-final: Stow II v Cheltenham North II

Stroud Combination Junior Cup, semi-final: Painswick v Minchinhampton

Bill Adams Cup, semi-final: Cirencester II v Dursley II

Women’s NC 3 South West (North): Pershore v Cheltenham Civil Service

Sunday April 21

Women’s NC 3 South West (North): Old Cryptians v Luctonians

Wednesday, April 24

Forest Combination Senior Cup, semi-final: Drybrook v Cinderford United (6.30)