Sat 10 Jan 2026, 15:00
Hornets v Barnstaple 10.1.26
Hornets welcomed 3rd placed Barnstaple to The Nest for the fist game in 2026 and having travelled to Barnstaple in a monsoon early in the campaign they were looking forward to turning the tables on the newly promoted side and that is what they did as Hornets ran out winners by 5 tries to 4 and picked up a valuable 5 league points to move up to 4th in National 2 West.
The day however was marred by the serious injury to Skipper Kieran Ward and all at Hornets wish Kieran a speedy recovery and also to Zac Combstock who suffered a similar injury in the 2s match away at Burnham.
In spring like sunshine Hornets knew they had to start well and after only 3 minutes Corey Baker had scored the first try converted by Jack Gapper after surging attacking fast rugby. 7-0.
Almost from the restart Hornets had a lineout on halfway and Joachim Hullah delivered the ball to James Murray and Gapper put Sonny Davis through a gap and the ever impressive Davis scorched over the line untouched and an easy conversion for Gapper. 14-0
Barnstaple through their large forwards were beginning to get a foothold and their classic catch and drive at the lineout was working well and when they released their backline they efficiently scored in the corner and good conversion 14-7.
Again after 27 minutes a visitors lineout and catch and drive this time resulted in a try for the pack and the conversion levelled the scores.14-14.
Hornets went looking for the final score of the half when Ward suffered his injury but just fell short and so both sides went in for a breather.
The second half started as it had finished and Hornets were imposing themselves and after a series of rucks Baker spotted a gap and stormed over and again an easy kick for Gapper and Hornets had regained the lead.21-14.
After 52 minutes the hosts through their front row of Alex Hawkins Callum Lane and Tom Read had their opposite number in trouble and a penalty from a scrum and Gapper extended the lead with a kick at goal.24.14.
Again on 57 minutes Barnstaple went back to plan A and a catch and drive lineout resulted in another score for them and the gap closed to 5 points after the missed conversion .24-19.
2 minutes later and following a clearance kick by Charlie Carter Barnstaple's Fijian flanked attacked at pace but the impressive Hornets defence not only tackled him he lost the ball in contact and when the ball was snapped up it was cleverly chipped forward and electric winger Josh Sheppard collected the kick and rounded under the posts and easy kick for Gapper 31.19
Hornets again eeked a penalty out of the visitors but this time the kicked sailed just wide and Barnstaple sensed a chance and attacked as they do with power. this led to a try on 72 minutes unsurprisingly a linout catch and drive and a bonus point at least for the visitors and they were looking for more as they were now within 7 points.31.24
Gapper again slotted a penalty kick which removed the losing bonus point for Barnstaple before right at the end stand in Skipper Connor Vickery was on hand as Adam Francis slipped him the ball out of the back of his hand and the easy kick and that was that. Full Time Hornets 41 Barnstaple 24.
Another first class performance at the Nest for Hornets and revenge for the away defeat and the games now come thick and fast as they next week travel to Cinderford for another hard fought encounter.
