Around ten minutes before half time, in Wednesday’s Super BUCS game between Leeds Beckett, I’d already moved to the 22m line in preparation for the trek to the other end of the pitch, and Hartpury went and scored yet another try.
For the home team and supporters, it was a low point. As the the Hartpury players congregated on the half way line, I heard one of them shout something to the effect of “Keep up the pressure boys! We’ve got them now! Their heads are down.” At the time, it seemed like a fair summary of Beckett’s plight.
But the visitors and perhaps us alike did not take their fighting spirit and refusal to give up into account. The sloping pitch might have been a bit of a factor too but, not for the first time this season, they were transformed in the second half. Don’t get me wrong - Hartpury’s victory was never really in doubt but, for a just a few short minutes, they might have been ever so slightly nervous, as the home team pulled things back to just a tad over a single score.
The door of opportunity was slammed shut quite quickly of course, but Beckett scored four tries in the second forty, picking up losing bonus points and achieving a respectable 26-40 final score. Well done them. Enjoy the pictures!