Hartpury RFC vs Worcester Warriors (A) - Match Report - 28-34

Brave Hartpury battle to record famous Sixways win over Worcester

By Olly Darcy & Luke Jarmyn, at Sixways Stadium

Hartpury RFC earned a famous win against Worcester Warriors at Sixways Stadium, beating the former Premiership side 34-28 in a thrilling eight try game.

A stunning first 40 minutes proved critical as Hartpury scored four tries and took the try bonus point thanks to a brace from winger Ollie Holliday, and one try each by No.8 Jarrard Hayler and blindside flanker Peter Paramore, to earn a 14-point half-time buffer that proved too much for Worcester to overturn.

With playmaker Harry Bazalgette slotting all four conversions and two second-half penalties, the university side headed back down the M5 with all five points while rising to fourth in the Champ Rugby table.

Overcast clouds and whipping winds hung around the impressive Sixways Stadium after Hartpury made the short 28-mile journey north for their closest away trip of the season.

Home-side fly-half Will Reed kicked-off the round 14 game, with Worcester making four changes from their loss to unbeaten league-leaders Ealing Trailfinders, and it was the side who started the day in third place that got the first score of the game through Austin Wallis, the hooker scythed through Hartpury’s defence after a tap-and-go penalty.

Hartpury then came alive after going behind, with Ollie Holliday scoring the first of Hartpury’s tries, racing in unmarked on the right-hand touchline after a fantastic pass from Bazalgette left the winger in acres of space, cashing in on some ill-discipline from the Warriors.

Hayler then added the second for the Gloucestershire side, making the most of a stunning break from outside centre Robbie Smith, racing from Worcester’s ten-metre line to the five-metre line and allowing No.8 Hayler to pick-and-go and crash over the whitewash.

Hartpury had started the game five points adrift from the Warriors and down in seventh place in the Champ standings, but they dominated the former Premiership side in the first 40 minutes, and some fantastic hands through the backs gave Hartpury their third try before the half-hour mark, with winger Holliday running over for his second try of the game.

The away side, looking for a fourth win in five games, made four changes from the side that beat Cambridge, but looked well-gelled as they secured a try bonus point in the first half.

Lock-forward Steele Barker caught the Warriors' defence napping with a clever pick-and-go, and the supporting back-row forward Peter Paramore crossed the try line to give Hartpury a three-score lead.

Just before the end of the first half, Worcester added a vital try through lock Hallam Chapman, the ex-Jersey Reds forward cut their deficit to Hartpury to 14 points with the game poised at 28-14 when the whistle sounded.

The home-side came out firing in the second-half as they looked to end their run of three consecutive losses, but some stout defensive work from Hartpury saw the blue-and-gold shirts held up over the line on 44 minutes.

Five minutes later, a penalty kick from Bazalgette gave the university’s team a 31-14 lead and a three-score cushion, but Worcester came right back with a try scored by replacement lock James Tyas, who made the most of a brilliant break from former Bath player Khalik Kareem.

Ten minutes of Warriors attacking pressure was brilliantly soaked up by Hartpury, but on the 66^th minute, replacement No.8 Thabo Ndimande crashed over to give the West Midlanders side a try bonus point of their own and cut the points deficit to just three.

However, Hartpury continued to show superb heart, and some impressive defence saw Worcester have the ball held up once again, before another pinpoint Bazalgette kick from the tee gave the red-kitted side three more points to stretch their lead to 34-28.

Some last-ditch attacking from Warriors could not see them burst through a steadfast red wall defence, and the full-time whistle signalled a fourth win in five games for the Gloucestershire side.

The victory means Hartpury jump back into the Champ Rugby play-off places, while Worcester fell to a fourth consecutive defeat but stayed put in third.

Stats:

WORCESTER WARRIORS: Will Trewin, Jake Garside (Siva Naulago, 53’), Tom Hendrickson, Rory Taylor, Josh Bassett, Will Reed (Tiff Eden, 61’), Lloyd Williams; Billy Keast (Livai Natave, 53’), Austin Wallis, Tim Hoyt (Fraser Balmain, 45’), Hallam Chapman, Obinna Nkwocha (James Tyas, 45’), Tim Anstee, Matt Kvesic ©, Khalik Kareem (Thabo Ndimande, 53’)

Not used: Archie Vanes, Will Lane

Tries: Austin Wallis 9’, Hallam Chapman 39’, James Tyas 53’, Thabo Ndimande 66’

Conversions: Will Reed 9’, 39’, 53’, Tiff Eden 66’

HARTPURY RFC: Isaac Marsh, Haydn Lewis (Brad Denty, 35’), Robbie Smith (Max Knight, 40’), Ollie Allsopp, Ollie Holliday, Harry Bazalgette, Oscar Lennon; Harrison Bellamy, Ethan Hunt, Jono Benz-Salomon (Alex Gibson, 5’), Steele Barker (Dale Lemon, 61’), Jack Davies © (Tom Worts, 70’), Peter Paramore, Harry Short, Jarrard Hayler

Not used: Casey Williams, Louie Trevette, Sam Allford

Tries: Ollie Holliday 18’, 27’, Jarrard Hayler 23’, Peter Paramore 34’

Conversions: Harry Bazalgette 18’, 23’, 27’, 34’

Penalties: Harry Bazalgette 50’, 79’

Referee: Harry Walbaum (RFU)

Attendance: 6,800

Half-time: 14-28 (to Hartpury RFC)

Star man: Harry Bazalgette (Hartpury RFC)

Reaction:

‘Chuffed’ Cornwell delighted with stunning Sixways win over Worcester

Hartpury’s director of rugby, Mark Cornwell, said he was “chuffed” to see his side complete the double over Worcester Warriors in the 2025/26 Champ Rugby season, thanks to a 34-28 win at Sixways Stadium.

First half tries from Jarrard Hayler, Peter Paramore, along with a brace from Ollie Holliday, inspired the Gloucestershire side to a famous win at the former Prem Rugby side, with Player of the Match Harry Bazalgette adding 15 vital points from his right boot thanks to four conversions and two penalty goals.

The bonus point win sees Hartpury catapult themselves up the Cham Rugby table after 14 rounds, moving from seventh to fourth and back into the playoff places as a fine season continues, with Cornwell full of praise for his men.

“It feels good, because we wanted to start this block of six games well,” Cornwell said after the thrilling game.

“Coming to Worcester away is not the easiest place to come and not the easiest game. But, full credit to the lads. I told them today that they had to bring some emotion to this game because Worcester are at home, and I know they're full of energy.

“I've been watching their last few games, and that's what they're about. So, we had to match that today and I thought for large periods of the game we did that.

“It did get a bit close at times. Full credit to Worcester. They played with some tempo and it was hard to stop at times. But I'm chuffed for the boys to win.”

The crux of the game was the stunning first 40 minutes that saw Hartpury seal a vital try bonus point in the first half, with some stunning attacking play shocking the warriors and blowing them away, ultimately deciding this game.

“You're not going to come to Worcester unless you score 28 points or more and win,” continued the former Gloucester lock.

“When we'd scored the bonus point by about 30 minutes, I thought, ‘Wow!’ I didn't expect that so quickly. But you had to work the referee out today.

“He was clearly with the side that had the ball. He penalised the defensive side off the par, both teams. So, it was a case of just trying to keep hold of the ball and keep the referee on your side. It wasn't easy at times.”

But while the brilliance of Hartpury’s attack stuck out in the first 40, the discipline and dogged defence in the second half allowed the red-kitted side to complete the double over Worcester and record a famous win at Sixways.

“At times, our defence was strong, and then the next set, there'd be a line break, or we'd give a penalty away, so it was a little bit frustrating on that side,” continued Cornwell.

“But, look, you've got to come here, and you've got to defend long periods against the good side that will punish you if you get it wrong. I'm glad that the boys stepped up today.”

Hartpury will go into the next Champ Rugby game full of confidence as they welcome Bedford Blues to the 4ED stadium, looking to continue their unbeaten record in the 2025/26 season.

“Again, as I said, it was a tough block to get Bedford at home after this game,” Cornwell stated when looking towards next week’s matchup.

“They’re second in the league. I know they lost last week, but they're a good side. They'll look to stretch you, and we've got to be up for that next week. It's a tough game.”

Bazalgette ‘speechless’ after guiding Harpury to stunning Sixways success

Hartpury’s fly-half Harry Bazalgette was left “speechless” after his side came away from Sixways Stadium with a stunning 34-28 victory against Worcester Warriors.

The fly-half steered his side to victory with a faultless performance in all areas, and a first-half bonus point for the Gloucestershire side saw them hold on to record a famous victory.

Hartpury took a 28-14 lead at half-time thanks to a brace of tries from winger Ollie Holliday, while number eight Jarrard Hayler and flanker Peter Paramore also added their names to the scoresheet.

Some lovely passing from Bazalgette through the backs capped off a fine first half. Then, after slotting all four conversions at a windy Sixways, he remained cool as ice in the second half to kick two vital penalties, helping his side get over the line.

“I’m a bit speechless, to be honest,” a stunned Bazalgette said after leading Hartpury to a famous win.

“We've just come off a couple of weeks' break, so bodies were fresh, and we've just had a couple of weeks to prepare for this, which has been brilliant.

“Obviously, we knew we could win; we had a bit of belief having beaten them at home early in the season. But it’s brilliant to actually go out there and do it.

After three weeks off from their last game, a 42-22 victory at home to Cambridge, a hugely challenging block of fixtures lies in front of the university side, where they will have to face all four sides at the top of the Champ Rugby table in successive weeks.

That started by travelling to a raucous Sixways Stadium, but a tenacious performance proved that Hartpury are well and truly in the fight for one of the top four places in what has been an impressive 2025/26 season.

“We're under no illusion that this is going to be a really tough block,” but we see ourselves as a top of the table side, and we've got to stand up to those challenges,” Bazalgette stated.

“We can't back away from them and feel sorry for ourselves. We've got a tough block coming up, but we're going to go into every game with a bit of confidence and get as many wins as we can.”

A brilliant 15 points were added from Bazalgette’s right boot, defying the blustery conditions to slot all four conversions and two penalty kicks, ultimately proving to be the difference.

Those points take the fly-half’s season total up to 135, 37 more than anyone else in the Champ Rugby campaign.

“I felt good. We’re all feeling fresh, you're not niggled, you're not tired,” the 26-year-old explained.

“This is kind of the time when kicking does feel good. In games like this, it's always going to be tight, and sometimes goal kicking can be the difference.”

“I was under no illusion today that was going to be the way, and, in a way, it was.”

Hartpury will take this win into another tough game after the winter break by welcoming Bedford Blues to the 4ED Stadium, looking to keep their unbeaten record at home alive and avenge their earlier loss to the side that sits in second.

“We know what Bedford are, and we know what they bring,” continued the fly-half.

“I think there are quite a few similarities between them; I love the rugby that they play and do it for the part-timers, which is always nice.

“I’m looking forward to it, and we owe them one after losing it late at their place!” concluded the fly-half.