Sat 2 Sep 2023, 14:30
Hornets v Loughborough University 2.9.23
With all the anticipation, excitement and expectancy of a brand-new second season in National League 2 West , Hornets welcomed the University students from Loughborough and with these youngsters Hornets knew it was going to be a fast hard running game and that is exactly what panned out.
In superb summer conditions although hot for the players, both sides contributed to an outstanding first game of the season and to it was Hornets who came out on top winning by 7 points in a high scoring 12 try bonanza and Hornets couldn’t have expected more than the maximum 5 points bonus win.
Before kickoff both sets of players lined up to remember Hornets’ members who sadly passed away during the closed season including Peter Costeloe, Eve Lauder, Vic Burnell and Nigel Davies.
Hornets welcomed the chance to play Loughborough again at the Nest as it was against the students last season when Hornets gained their first ever victory in the National League.
In blistering sunshine it was the visitors who were quick to assert the pressure on the hosts and were deep inside Hornets 22 and an attacking lineout to them, the expectancy was a certain score, but Jon Roberts stole the lineout, Matt Parker trundled up with the ball and then on his own goal line Charlie Carter launched a massive clearance kick which made its way to inside Loughborough’s 22 and so Hornets put in at the lineout.
Roberts, again winning the ball and Kieran Ward coming round the corner found Danny Bailey on the hoof and then quick ball from Hayden Tuttiett to Jamie Elswood and Carter was in space and scorched over untouched for the first points of the day and Elswood slotted the conversion and Hornets had a 7-point lead.
With the new tackle heigh law it was Hornets who seemed to be not quite getting it right according to the ref and were guilty of giving a number of penalties away and on the last occasion Jake Caulfield was told off enough to be sent to the bin. This allowed Loughborough a chance and their huge no.8 was able to barge over for his first of two for the day.7-7.
Still with only 14 on the pitch Hornets attacked and when Bailey made one of his trademark runs it freed up Connor Vickery who was on hand to score and another conversion by Elswood had restored the lead. 14-7
The students, who were a threat all afternoon as you would expect with quick running backs and large aggressive forwards constantly banged on the door and eventually the no. 8 again got over the line with only 9 minutes of the first half left.14-12
As the half ebbed away Hornets supporters would have been pleased to go into the break with a slender lead but this team appear to have a different mindset this season and attacked, following a high tackle by the visitors and a penalty 10 metres out, Tuttiett took a tap and fed Caulfield coming at pace who was stopped short then the other prop Alec Chase took it to the line and then on his return to the Nest Sam Taylor was on hand for the short dive to get the try and again Elswood was accurate and Hornets had strengthened their lead on the half time whistle. 21-12.
Hornets stayed out at the break and huddled in the shade of the container and Loughborough went into the changing rooms and it appeared to benefit Hornets more who were still acclimatized to the heat as they were first to strike on the restart.
A Hornets line on halfway was cleared up buy the big second row Courtney Harris and he spotted a gap through the middle of the broken line and sped off at pace and when he drew the last defender it was Bailey on hand to receive the ball and he had the strength and pace to go over for the bonus point try and again Elswood converted.28-12.
Loughborough again stepped up and earned another try to close the gap to 28-17
Hornets then applied more pressure and a clean lineout win allowed the ball to be shipped down the line and on his opposite wing debutant Don Farmer showed why he will be a huge asset to Hornets this year he tgo the ball on the 22 and duly bounced off the full back and surged over in front of the large set of watered Hornets Patrons in the corner to much merryment.33-17.
Loughborough again got another score to keep the game alive before the try of the match. A clearance kick had skipper Parker deep in his own half and the slim looking no.8 set off at pace and instead of barging through the defence he popped the ball to Carter who was at full speed who ghosted through, he found Harris again at full tilt who shipped the ball to his second row partner Ayden Chenoweth who carried to dive over in the corner and the boot of Elswood was again accurate and Hornets had the win in their sights. 40-24.
Again, Loughborough wouldn’t go away and scored a well worked try before Hornets again took the sting out of the visitors’ hopes by slotting a penalty kick with just 2 minutes to go.43-31.
With the last play being acted out again Loughborough got another to secure a second losing bonus point and the game was over. Final score Hornets 43 Loughborough University 36. Danny Bailey was voted the Cheddar Spirit Co. Player of the match.
A huge result for this team as they have worked hard all preseason and have shown the big loyal crowd of supporters that it could be a good season to look forward to.
Hornets 2nd XV were also at the Nest and a very impressive display of quality rugby saw them beat a pluck Oldfield 1st XV by 38 points to 7. try scorers were Quentin Querl (2), Finn Windell, Gareth Brock, Connor Davidson and Kieran Panayi and 4 conversions by fly half Jordan Humphris .
Special mention to Finn Windell who in his first game out of Colts and into senior rugby was voted player of the match and to another ex-Colt Kieran Panayi who impressed massively in his first game.
Hornets 3rds had probably the best result of the afternoon as they travelled to Castle Cary in a repeat of last season's Somerset Plate final which Hornets were the victors and having been 19-5 down came back to win in impressive style by 33 points to 19. Player of the match was Charlie Fairhurst.
Hornets 4th XV in their first run out in the league were unlucky to come out on the wrong side against the 1st XV of Morganians losing 33 points to 10. A couple of nasty injuries to some of these players and some very sore limbs this morning but in true Hornets spirit gave it their all and returned to the Nest with massive smiles on their faces and so celebrated with the rest of the Club over a beer and a singsong as the 2023/4 season gets underway with some outstanding rugby by all 4 senior men's teams.
