Hartpury College RFC

Hartpury stormed out of the blocks and secured the four-try bonus point within 28 minutes, courtesy of tries from flankers Mike Craven and Rob Langley, prop Richard Barrington and winger Glen Lewis, with England U20 fly half Dan Robson adding two conversions.

The hosts pulled one back nine minutes before the break through centre Ryan Edwards, but Harry Collins barged his way over to give the visitors a 29-7 lead at the interval.

Taunton, who had only lost four home games prior to this match, rallied well at the start of the second half and scored their second try through Edwards’ centre partner Christian Gervais, which was converted by former Exeter Chiefs fly half Tony Yapp.

The visitors, however, seized the game by the scruff of the neck and registered two quick-fire scores through Clark and Lewis and another Robson conversion to extinguish any hopes of a Taunton comeback.

The home side, to their credit, did not fold and the prolific Reuben Haile scored his side’s third five-pointer on the hour to give the Somerset outfit hope of a bonus point.

The only further activity on the scoreboard, though, came courtesy of Hartpury, with Clark grabbing a further two tries that sent him to the top of the division’s try scoring chart and the Gloucestershire side over the half-century mark.

Hartpury College RFC would like to thank Taunton for their excellent hospitality and wish them luck for the rest of the season.

Hartpury College RFC’s next fixture is a huge home clash against third-placed Old Albanians on Saturday 14th January.

Squad: 15 Speirs 14 Lewis (2T) 13 Hayes 12 Rodwell 11 Clark (3T) 10 Robson (4C) 9 Field 1 Barrington (1T) 2 Collins (1T) 3 Thorne 4 Waldron 5 Casson 6 Langley (1T) 7 Craven (1T) 8 Thomas (capt.) 16 Britton 17 Morris 18 Hoy 19 Lawler 20 Gasson