Joint leaders Bath open up 10-point gap over chasing pack with hard-fought BUCS Super Rugby derby home win over Hartpury

The University of Bath men’s 1st XV stretched their BUCS Super Rugby winning run to six matches by recording a hard-fought 39-26 victory over local rivals Hartpury at the Team Bath Sports Training Village.

The teams were deadlocked at 19-19 at half-time but the hosts, who are sponsored by Bath Building Society, dug deep to eventually come through with the points and successfully defend the BUCS Challenge Shield for a third time.

A topsy-turvy first half saw Bath take the lead three times through tries from Evan Gallagher, Isaac Mears (pictured) and Oli Sedgwick, the latter two converted by James Beverley, only for Hartpury to reply in kind on each occasion through Casey Williams, Corbin Smith and Sam Alexander, Math Jones adding the extras to two of their scores.

Hartpury then went ahead for the first time just after the interval, Jones converting a Toby Maddock try, but it was Bath’s turn to quickly level the scores through an Isaac Sprenger touchdown and Beverley conversion.

A Harry Walker try restored Bath’s lead in the 51st minute and Beverley, who added the conversion, then kicked two penalties in the closing stages as the home side fought fiercely to keep Hartpury at bay.

The result means Bath – who are also supported by Rengen – and joint leaders Loughborough are now 10 points clear of third-placed Exeter, who welcome Bath to Sandy Park on Wednesday 4th February (7.45pm).

Cardiff are the next visitors to the Sports Training Village on Wednesday 11th February(6.30pm), free admission for spectators.

Match stats

University of Bath starting XV: 1 Jacob Yates, 2 Evan Gallagher, 3 Ollie Critchley, 4 Albert Dmitriev, 5 Isaac Sprenger, 6 Fred Kempton, 7 Iwan Coyle (cc), 8 Will Keylock; 9 Isaac Mears, 10 James Beverley, 11 Henry Bartlett, 12 Oscar Bennett, 13 Jamie Howick, 14 Oli Sedgwick, 15 Harry Walker. Replacements: 16 Max Pearce (cc), 17 Archie McNicol, 18 Alfie Griffin, 19 Tom Hilton, 20 Ollie Read, 21 Roman Andrews, 22 Jack Winfield, 23 Rocky Prowse.

Tries: Gallagher, Mears, Sedgwick, Sprenger, Walker.
Conversions: Beverley 4.
Penalties: Beverley 2.

Hartpury starting XV: 1 Thomas Hill, 2 Casey Williams, 3 Harry Wright, 4 Liam Le Roux, 5 Carn Richards Farr, 6 Cameron Murray, 7 Joseph Gaffan, 8 Olly Allport; 9 Sam Morton-Smith, 10 Math Jones, 11 Sam Alexander, 12 Kyle Harris, 13 Tye Davies, 14 Toby Maddock, 15 Corbin Smith. Replacements: 16 James Fallon, 17 George Alexander, 18 Lewis Golding, 19 Naquan Smith, 20 Charlie Rainbird, 21 Sonny Greenman, 22 Owen Popple, 23 Jack Gilbert.

Tries: Williams, Smith, S Alexander, Maddock.
Conversions: Jones 4.