Hartpury back on top of BUCS Super Rugby after denying Loughborough double
After such dominance at the beginning of the BUCS Super Rugby era, Hartpury now have their hands on the trophy once again
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Hartpury secured their first BUCS Super Rugby title since 2019 as they denied Loughborough the chance of the double following a 34-21 victory at Rodney Parade.
Seb Smith got the defending champions off to the ideal start but Corbin Smith and Rhys Price both scored in a four-minute window to hand Hartpury the early advantage.
Loughborough’s Morgan Meredith landed two penalties but they came either side of a third Hartpury score via Casey Williams.
The second half was strongly contested with both fly-halves trading penalties but the pendulum really swung Hartpury's way just after the hour when George Perry rumbled over.
Loughborough were gifted a way back into the contest as Finlay Doyle punished an inaccurate Hartpury lineout on 69 minutes but the men in red were able to wrap up their first title in six years as Oscar Wilson latched on to a brilliant crossfield kick late on.
Under former coach Sean Lynn, the BUCS Super Rugby trophy used to be a permanent resident at Hartpury University and perhaps fittingly, the institution which is so close to the heart of the now Wales Women’s head coach regained the title in Newport.
In the week, current boss Dan Murphy had talked about putting Hartpury ‘back on the map’ - with this being their first final since Lynn guided the Gloucestershire outfit to a hat-trick of titles between 2017-19 - and even though it was first blood to Loughborough through Smith, it was Hartpury who controlled the best part of the opening 40.
On eight minutes, winger Josiah Edwards-Giraud slipped off three or four would-be Loughborough tacklers and flicked the ball on to Price before Smith polished it off, and an almost identical try followed swiftly after.
Once again, Hartpury found the Loughborough edge and a brilliant break from impressive inside centre Max Knight saw him find Smith who fed Price to go over.
Keillen Cullen added the extras but opposite number Meredith cut the lead to 14-10 as both teams began to size one another up after a rapid start in South Wales.
But yet again, it was a kick to the left wing which laid the platform for Hartpury’s third. The vision of Price saw Matty Ward apply pressure on the Loughborough defence before forcing the African Violet into an error.
From the resulting penalty and kick to the corner, a clever line-out move, straight off the base to Wales U20 international Harry Beddall, saw Williams power over down the blindside.
Loughborough stayed in touch as Meredith instantly responded from the tee, but Hartpury showed their intent straight from the restart as their front-foot approach garnered a penalty which Cullen pinged over for a 22-13 lead.
Loughborough were trying to create inroads but they were stunted by a resilient Hartpury defence that grew stronger as the night wore on.
But Martin Webdale’s troops were handed a route back into the contest when Hartpury skipper Matt Hillary was perhaps harshly pinged at the breakdown and Meredith took the sensible option to reduce the arrears to six points.
However, Hartpury's grip on this final remained and a yellow card shown to Loughborough replacement Alex O'Driscoll tipped the balance further in their favour as Perry's close-range effort stretched their advantage.
The realisation from the Hartpury dugout that this could be their day was becoming evident, but Loughborough weren't going to throw the towel in that easily as a miscommunication at a Hartpury lineout ended with Doyle flying into the opposite corner.
With the gap now down to eight points heading into the final 10 minutes, Hartpury went back on the attack and a beautiful crossfield kick from Cullen was gleefully received by Wilson in the corner to ultimately seal the deal for Murphy's men.
Loughborough: 15 Gourlay, 14 Doyle, 13 Preen, 12 Cusick, 11 Kinder, 10 Meredith, 9 Bryan; 1 Murphy, 2 Smith, 3 Van Lille, 4 Evans (c), 5 Hunter, 6 Nkonge, 7 Eckersley, 8 Harvey
Replacements: 16 Plunkett, 17 O'Driscoll, 18 Bignell, 19 Bausor , 20 Adegbemile, 21 Hulse, 22 Wainwright, 23 Kildunne
Hartpury: 15 Smith, 14 Ward, 13 McCarthy, 12 Knight, 11 Edwards-Giraud, 10 Cullen, 9 Price; 1 Hill, 2 Williams, 3 Minnis, 4 Erskine, 5 Le Roux, 6 Worts, 7 Beddall, 8 Hillary (c)
Replacements: 16 Fallon, 17 Davies, 18 Perry, 19 Richards-Farr, 20 Murray, 21 Minto, 22 Coetzee, 23 Wilson
