Hartpury v Nottingham
18 April 2026 | 4ED Hartpury Stadium | Elior Champ Rugby
Despite leading early in the contest, Nottingham’s hopes of a playoff spot were severely hampered by a rampant Hartpury who scored seven tries and saw Harry Bazalgette have a perfect afternoon from the tee in a 52-19 victory.
Lock Osian Thomas reflected: “Obviously we’re disappointed. It was a big game for the playoff race and we wanted to come away with five points. We went away from our gameplan, it’s not like us. We focus on physicality and effort and it wasn’t there today.”
The hosts took the lead after five minutes when number 8 Tom Worts powered over off the back of a maul but the Archers struck back immediately as Thomas hit an incisive line to break open the Hartpury defence. The ball was worked via Michael Green to Jack Stapley to cross in the right-hand corner. Gwyn Parks couldn’t convert in the Gloucestershire wind.
On the quarter-hour mark, aided by a yellow card for Harry Taylor, Charlie Myall found a gap to dart in under the posts for his third try in as many starts, putting his side into a lead that Parks was able to extend this time.
But Hartpury hit back almost instantly when full back Brad Denty’s pace and footwork saw him run it in from near halfway. And they continued to apply the pressure for the remainder of the period, recording a try bonus point after Robbie Smith scored by the sticks after half an hour and Will Crane finished off a driving maul just before the interval, giving his side a 28-12 lead at the break.
It was one way traffic in the second half. With Nottingham flanker Green in the sin bin, Charlie Powell ran it in from 30 metres before Max Knight gathered a Bazalgette chip to dot down just after the hour mark.
Replacement Cai Gealy’s first act after coming on was to pounce on a loose ball and slide over from five metres then Bazalgette took Hartpury past the 50 point mark with a long range penalty.
With time running out Shane O’Leary grabbed a late consolation for the Archers.
Thomas looked forward to the remainder of the season: “We have to sort it out for the last two matches. We need five points from each if we’re going to make the playoffs, which is our aim, and we’re going to give it everything.”