Honours even in rollercoaster Rec battle as Bath and Hartpury finish all square in front of huge Anniversary Game crowd

Another huge crowd at The Rec was treated to an epic Anniversary Game, sponsored by Colour Studios, as the University of Bath men’s 1st XV and local BUCS Super Rugby rivals Hartpury fought out a thrilling 31-31 draw.

The home team found themselves trailing 21-0 midway through the first half but looked like they had completed a memorable comeback when fly-half Ieuan Davies finished off an outstanding move in the closing minutes to grab a bonus-point fourth try, adding to earlier efforts from player of the match Alfie Griffin, Harry Breeze and Kepu Tuipulotu.

Will Roue’s fourth conversion of the evening, plus a penalty, put Bath 31-21 up with 79 minutes on the clock but there was still time for Hartpury to slot over a penalty from the restart, then score a converted try with the last move of the game to salvage a well-earned draw in front of more than 7,000 spectators.

That meant the Anniversary Game honours were shared between the clubs, with Welsh international and former Bath Rugby player Rhys Priestland – a guest of match sponsors Colour Studios – presenting the trophy to captains Max Pearce and Matt Hillary.

Bath co-captain Pearce: “The first half wasn’t good enough from us but to come back from 21-0 down like that shows the character and ability we have in this team. Unfortunately we couldn’t see it out but it was a good match from both teams.

“It was an unreal turnout, especially given the rainy conditions. To get that size of crowd out for university sport is incredible. Thank you to everyone who came.”

Aaron James, Head of Rugby at the University of Bath, added: “We’re disappointed not to come away with the win. There were a lot of errors on the night and while it was great we had the confidence to come back like we did, our discipline let us down again in the last couple of minutes.

“What an atmosphere to play in, though. It was a great advert for the University of Bath and BUCS Super Rugby.”

Among the 7,000-strong crowd packing into The Rec for the annual city-centre celebration of student sport were three Paris 2024 medallists who train at the University of Bath – Olympic swimming champion Tom Dean, para-badminton silver-medallist Dan Bethell and double Paralympic wheelchair fencing gold-medallist Dimitri Coutya.

They saw Hartpury fly-half Keillen Cullen drag a fourth-minute penalty wide from range and while Bath were largely on the front foot during the opening stages, it was the visitors who scored first in the 12th minute.

A fantastic break down the right from Dylan Coetzee was thwarted but Bath’s defence was exposed and a smart kick to the opposite flank was collected by Oscar Wilson for a simple run-in, Cullen adding the conversion.

That gave Hartpury momentum and hooker Casey Williams went over from a rolling maul in the 18th minute before, from the restart, a grubber kick from Rhys Price was knocked on under the posts and Matt Hillary pounced on the loose ball to touch down. Cullen kicked both conversions to leave Bath 21-0 down midway through the first half.

Bath needed the next score and they got it in the 26th minute, The Rec erupting as a series of raids on the Hartpury line ended with outstanding prop Griffin bundling over by the posts to leave Roue with a simple conversion.

The hosts finished the first half and began the second with 14 men, flanker Breeze having been sent to the sin bin, but they spent much of that time with ball in hand as they searched for the crucial next score.

Hartpury themselves lost prop Harrison Bellamy to a yellow card after Bath scrums in the 22 were repeatedly collapsed and the pressure finally told when Breeze, back on the pitch, burrowed over in the 53rd minute for a try converted by Roue.

Bath, attacking the North Stand where hundreds of hardy souls were braving the rain to cheer on the hosts, now had the wind in their sails and they drew level on the hour mark when a huge lineout drive ended with replacement hooker Tuipulotu going over. Roue’s nerveless conversion made it 21-21.

Hartpury had a lineout of their own in the corner from the restart but Bath defended superbly and forged ahead for the first time when Roue kicked a fantastic penalty from 35 yards.

The visitors were again reduced to 14 men, winger Coetzee being sin-binned, and Bath took full advantage by scoring the try of the night, Breeze and Tuipulotu exchanging passes down the left flank before the latter’s lovely inside pass sent Davies over.

The beer went flying as Roue’s conversion put Bath 10 points clear but a Cullen penalty from the restart made it a one-score game again and Hartpury capitalised on more Bath errors as Hillary scored his second try of the night. Cullen’s close-range conversion meant honours were even.

Next up for the University of Bath men’s 1st XV, who are sponsored by Bath Building Society and Rengen, is another home derby, this time against Exeter at the Team Bath Sports Training Village on Wednesday 23rd October. Kick-off is 6.30pm and entry is free.

Match stats

University of Bath starting XV: 1 Claudius Wheeler, 2 Max Pearce (cc), 3 Alfie Griffin, 4 Max Mayor, 5 Tom Hilton, 6 Harry Breeze, 7 Connor Treacey (cc), 8 George Doel; 9 Ieuan Davies, 10 Will Roue, 11 Tom Hughes, 12 Kit Evans, 13 Christian Streater, 14 Tyler Offiah, 15 Jack Woods. Replacements: 16 Kepu Tuipulotu, 17 Jacob Yates, 18 Henry Mountford, 19 Aiden Ainsworth-Cave, 20 Enoch Gyamfi-Opoku, 21 Archie Friend, 22 Raff Weston, 23 James Pavey.

Tries: Griffin, Breeze, Tuipulotu, Davies.
Conversions: Roue 4.
Penalties: Roue.

Hartpury starting XV: 1 Harrison Bellamy, 2 Casey Williams, 3 Ollie Minnis, 4 Eddie Erskine, 5 Liam Le Roux, 6 Deian Gwynne, 7 Harry Beddall, 8 Matt Hillary (cc); 9 Rhys Price, 10 Keillen Cullen, 11 Dylan Coetzee, 12 Max Knight, 13 Wilf McCarthy (cc), 14 Oscar Wilson, 15 Corbin Smith. Replacements: 16 James Randall, 17 Tom Hill, 18 Owen Popple, 19 Carn Richards-Farr, 20 Cameron Murray, 21 Kyle McGhie, 22 George Stephens, 23 Iwan Pyrs Jones.

Tries: Wilson, Williams, Hillary 2.
Conversions: Cullen 4.
Penalty: Cullen.

Referee: Iain Kiy.
Assistant referees: Alan Chandrachud, Brian Ravenhill.
Attendance: 7,000.