Warriors fall to narrow defeat on the road

Worcester Warriors fell to a narrow 28-25 defeat on the road to Hartpury in round two of Champ Rugby, coming away with two bonus points.

Warriors crossed for four tries compared to Hartpury’s three, but nine penalty points off the boot of Hartpury’s fly-half Harry Bazalgette proved to be the difference.

Khalik Kareem was given an early yellow card for Warriors, and the hosts took advantage of the extra man with winger Ollie Holliday crossing in the corner.

Worcester responded soon after with a lovely looping pass finding Roma Zheng outwide, with the Warriors winger finishing well.

The Warriors were soon down to 14 men again when Lloyd Williams saw yellow for a deliberate knock-on.

As both sides battled for field position and momentum in the game, Bazalgette knocked over his first penalty as the game ticked into the second quarter to put Hartpury back ahead.

A third yellow card of the first half was given to Hartpury’s Keir Clark, and it was Worcester’s turn to take advantage when Williams sniped over from a scrum, giving his side a narrow half-time lead.

Five minutes into the second half, Worcester extended their lead when a driving maul motored to the line with Harvey Cuckson grabbing the try – Reed adding the extras.

Bazalgette added a second penalty for the hosts before full-back Alex Morgan pounced on a loose ball to run in from his own half, with Bazalgette’s conversion putting Hartpury back in front.

A third penalty for Hartpury extended their lead with a close-range score from prop Louie Trevett, taking the hosts eleven points ahead.

Worcester continued to fight as the game edged into the final stages, narrowing the gap via a Tiff Eden penalty.

The tension built around the 4ED Stadium, and when Zheng crossed for his second on the far wing, the  Warriors found themselves back within three points.

As the clock ticked into the red, Worcester continued to push for the victory, but the hosts held on to clinch the win.

Hartpury 28

T – Holliday 9’, Morgan 55’, Trevett 64’

C – Bazalgette 55’,

P – Bazalgette 23’, 53’, 60’

YC – Clark 32’,

Warriors 25

T – Zheng 14’, 74’, Williams 40’, Cuckson 45’,

C – Reed 45’

P – Eden 69’

YC – Kareem 4’, Williams 18’