Hartpury 30-26 Nottingham (RFU Championship) 02.01.22
It was a fourth straight league defeat for Nottingham and a first loss of 2022 in the opening game of the year as Hartpury University ended out winners by just four points after a second half comeback in Gloucestershire fell short for the Green & Whites.
Nottingham actually took the lead with a try from Browning in the opening twelve minutes which was converted by Lancaster before the home side took control of the first half with a try on 17 from Robinson after a strong drive and a penalty on 22 from Williams.
Gray went over on 32 for a converted score to give Hartpury an eight point lead before Williams kicked over another penalty which edged the game in the hosts favour at 18-7 by the break.
Nottingham fought back in the second forty and just six minutes into the half Jake Farnworth crossed over after good team play with Stronge converting but a penalty try for the home side swung the match back in the favour of Hartpury.
Williams quickly responded for another Nottingham try with Stronge again kicking the extras to bring the score to within four, but Foley went over for Hartpury to give them a clear advantage after Barrett was yellow carded before a late rally, Browning going over for his second of the match, not enough to complete a second half turnaround as Nottingham battered the home sides door down for the last ten minutes of the match without any luck.
For Hartpury, a third win in a row, they sit sixth in the table whilst Nottingham are tenth with eighteen points from eleven games. Next up for the Archers is second placed Ealing at the Bay on Saturday week (15th Jan).
Starting Team: Jack Stapley, David Williams, Elliot Creed, Charlie Thacker, Joe Browning, Dan Lancaster, Michael Stronge; Toby Williams, Jake Farnworth, Josh McNulty, Jack Ramshaw, Callum Allen, Carl Kirwan, Lewis Barrett, Scott Hall.
Replacements: Archie Vanes, Aniseko Sio, Ben Betts, Storm Hanekom, Jacob Wright, Sam Edwards, Sam Hollingsworth, Morgan Bunting.
*Main image @HartpuryRFC Josh McNulty goes in for the tackle at Hartpury.
