Bazalgette celebrates his birthday in fine style

Hartpury……….. 54pts

Tries: A Benz-Solomon 8, Morgan 21, 79, Lewis 27, 57, Short 47, Crane 62, Penalty 71

Conversions: Bazalgette 9, 22, 28, 48, 58, 63

Ampthill ……….. 34pts

Tries: Harris 2, Jackson-Richards 4, Chapman 12, Elliot 41, Hallett 51

By LUKE JARMYN

Conversions: Barton 3, 5, 52

Penalties: Jackson-Richards 44

BIRTHDAY boy Harry Bazalgette marked turning 25 with a stand-out display, kicking 12 points as Hartpury got their biggest points haul of the season.

It sees the fly-half top the Championship‘s point scorer standings, with the Gloucestershire side making it four wins in five – the equal best form in tier two – to go sixth.

Blindside Sam Lewis and winger Alex Morgan both scored twice, with loosehead Aristot Benz-Salomon, openside Harry Short and hooker Will Crane all on the try sheet.

Head coach Mark Cornwell said: “It’s been a turnaround in fortune for us. Our combinations are gelling, the boys are scoring some nice tries, and we’re getting over the line with bonus-point wins.

“I’ll give Harry a bit of stick for missing that last kick, but he was great for us from the tee, as he has been all season. Ealing next, a real test. We’ve got to defend well and our defence wasn’t acceptable so we have plenty to work on.”

After last week’s postponement, Ampthill were fresh and got a lineout quickly from kick-off. Scrum-half Pete White set up wing Ben Harris who darted round the back to score left of the posts. A minute later, Brandon Jackson-Richards raced in 80m from an intercept.

Hartpury came back, Benz-Salomon finishing a short catch-and-drive. But the Mob extended their lead, hooker Ben Chapman scoring as the maul rumbled over right of the posts on the 12th minute. The home side’s quick phase-play led to Morgan powering over on the left and their scrum put them deep into Ampthill’s 22 before Lewis muscled over for the half-time lead.

The A’s restarted quickly, captain Morgan Strong and prop Dom Hardman breaking through before wing Tobias Elliot chipped over a defender to score.

Hartpury centre Robbie Smith saw yellow for killing the ball in a try scoring opportunity. Undeterred, Short intercepted an overhead Ampthill lineout to renew the home side’s lead 28-27. A’s centre Josh Hallett dashed down the left for a great solo score, but a minute later replacement Harvey Beaton saw yellow for a high tackle.

Then it was all Hartpury. Crane scored from another lineout drive, then a penalty try with Jackson-Richards carded for collapsing a maul, before Charlie Powell found Morgan in acres of space to slide over in the left corner in the final minute.

Ampthill coach Paul Turner said: “To lead 14-0 after five minutes and then be down at half-time, I’m really disappointed. We went ahead again but gave away soft tries.”