The Reds maintained their prospects of reaching the Championship Cup semi-finals thanks to a dominant performance in victory at Hartpury.
Harvey Biljon’s side head into their final pool A match at home to Nottingham on Friday night knowing that a win will guarantee their progress to the knock-out stage of the cup in May.
The visitors wasted little time in asserting themselves, with the pack doing the initial damage. A brace of lineouts offered attacking platforms and after a series of drives there were scores for James Dun and Macauley Cook.
The Reds’ back didn’t take long to get into the game and a fine run by Tomi Lewis set up Brendan Owen for a try early in the second quarter. Sadly it was the full-back’s final meaningful contribution as he was forced from the field after 25 minutes with a suspected broken nose following a high challenge by Lennon Greggains which earned the flanker a yellow card.
Ryan Hutler secured the bonus point in the final play of the half, racing onto Dan Barnes’ grubber, and Tom Pittman added a third conversion from four first-half attempts.
Hutler could have scored again soon after the resumption, but was denied by a slap-down by Harri Williams, which saw a penalty try instead, and a yellow card for the home fly-half.
Hartpury were able to get on the scoreboard during Williams’ absence as wing Brad Denty broke through the Jersey defence for a try, but soon afterwards Lewis claimed his second for the visitors as he dived over between the posts.
Much of the impetus went out of the game in the closing stages, but the visitors were able to muster a seventh try at the end when replacement Tom Everard powered over from close range against his former club and claimed his first try for the Reds.
With five points safely secured, and Ealing also taking the maximum haul in defeating Nottingham 71-14 on Saturday, the Londoners remain a point clear of the Reds. Both sides play on Friday night this week, with Jersey at home to Nottingham, and wins will secure both their passage to the semi-finals. Pool C winners Cornish Pirates are the only side mathematically certain of their semi-final place, with Doncaster favourites to win pool B, unless they slip up at Bedford and are overhauled by Coventry.
Pic by Archie Saunders
HARTPURY: Noah Heward; Brad Denty, Will Butler, Harry Tarling, Jacob Morris; Harri Williams (YC 51), Morgan Lloyd; Mikey Summerfield, Will Tanner (capt), Jon Benz Salomon, Ben Glynn, Dale Lemon, Jack Davies, Lennon Greggains (YC 25), Jake Holcombe
Replacements (all used): Aaron Thompson, Sam Rodman, Aristot Benz Salomon, Joe Howard, Aaron Tull, Oscar Lennon, Mathew McNab, Jac Lloyd
REDS: Brendan Owen (Will Brown 25); Ryan Hutler, Charlie Powell, Dan Barnes, Tomi Lewis; Tom Pittman (Russell Bennett 58), James Elliott (Toby Venner 58); Greg McGrath (Huw Owen 60), James Hadfield (Eoghan Clarke 60), Adam Nicol (Steve Longwell 60), James Scott, Macauley Cook (Tom Everard 58), Josh Gray, Lewis Wynne (capt), James Dun (Hallam Chapman 54).
REFEREE: Christophe Ridley. Assistants: Veryan Boscawen, Kevin Williams
Half Time: 0-26
Attendance: 700
Scorers
Hartpury
Try: Denty 57
Conversion: Lennon 57
Jersey Reds
Tries: Dun 6, Cook 12, Owen B 21, Hutler 40, Penalty try 51, Lewis 57, Everard 79
Conversions: Pittman 6, 12, 40, 57, Bennett 79
