Match Report: Hart[ury v Warriors

🔥 Hartpury 28-25 Worcester Warriors

Saturday 11 October 2025
4ED Stadium, Hartpury
Champ Rugby Round 2

A crackle of drama, tension and near‐misses filled the air at Hartpury as the hosts held on for a dazzling 28-25 win over Worcester Warriors. Worcester left with two bonus points, four tries, a steely resolve — but it was Hartpury’s pressure, precision, and penalty boot that made the difference, with fly-half Harry Bazalgette’s 13 points proving match-defining.

🎭 Prelude: Stakes, squads & swagger

This was more than just a match. For Worcester, newly reinstated in professional Tier 2, this was about legacy, redemption, restoring pride. Hartpury, bright and ambitious, saw in this a chance to prove they can shake the bigger names in the Championship.

Worcester made five changes to their starting line-up, including George Young’s competitive debut, the return of Billy Twelvetrees to familiar Hartpury turf, and a forward pack aiming to dominate in collisions.

First Half: Early carnage, twists & razor-thin margins

• Right from kick-off, Worcester’s discipline first wobbled. Khalik Kareem was in the sin bin early (4′) for a mistimed tackle, leaving Worcester to weather opening Hartpury storms. Hartpury welcomed the extra space: Ollie Holliday darted away in the corner to cross and put the home side on the board. Conversion missed. (Hartpury 5-0)

• Worcester responded with slick handling, finishing with Roma Zheng slicing through wide on 14′ to level the scores. (5-5)

• Tension ramped up as Lloyd Williams saw yellow around the 18′ mark for a deliberate knock-on? Hartpury pressed again; they didn’t immediately score from the numerical advantage but took territory.

• Harry Bazalgette steadied Hartpury’s nerves with a penalty around the 23′ minute mark, taking the lead 8-5.

• Just as it looked like Hartpury might fully dominate, another twist: Hartpury’s Keir Clark picked up a yellow (about the 32′ mark), putting them on the back foot.

• But Worcester capitalised: from a tight scrum, Lloyd Williams snuck over on about 40′ (just before half-time), giving Worcester the lead. (Worcester 10-8) 
  
  

Half-time: Hartpury 8 - 10 Worcester

An absorbing half: flashes of brilliance, costly discipline, and just enough scoreline intrigue to leave everything to play for.

⚡ Second Half
Momentum, moments & madness

• Worcester came out strong after the break. A battering maul saw Harvey Cuckson crash over early in the second half  Will Reed’s conversion pushing Worcester further ahead. (Worcester 17-8) 
  
  
• But Hartpury responded in quick succession:
  
  
• Bazalgette slotted another penalty (~53′). (17-11)
  
  
• Moments later, full-back Alex Morgan picked off a loose pass near halfway, breaking through defenders in a lung-busting run from deep to score. Bazalgette kicked the conversion. Hartpury took the lead. (18-17)
  
  
• Hartpury then extended the gap: a third penalty by Bazalgette around 60′ made it 21-17. Soon after (~64′), prop Louie Trevett burrowed over from close range, giving Hartpury breathing room with Bazalgette adding the extras. (28-17) 
  
  
• Worcester, refusing to lie down, launched a late surge:
  
  
• Tiff Eden hit a penalty about 69′ to reduce the margin. (28-20)
  
  
• Roma Zheng then scored his second try around 74′, sidestepping the Hartpury defence wide on the wing. Conversion missed, leaving Worcester trailing by just three. (28-25) 
  
  
• As the minutes ticked away, Worcester battered at Hartpury’s line. The home side, though, marshalled their defence — every ruck, every tackle counted. Hartpury’s composure under pressure held firm; Worcester could not breach the last line. Final whistle blew.
  
  
  

🏆 Turning Points & Game Definers
 

• Early Discipline from Worcester – The yellow cards (Kareem, Williams) handed Hartpury chances; they punished those lapses.
  
  
• Bazalgette’s Boot – His three successful penalties plus two conversion under pressure swung the momentum — not flashy, but deadly accurate and crucial.
  
  
• Morgan’s Spectacular Counter – From some way back, his interception and dash shifted momentum entirely in Hartpury's favour when Worcester were just feeling comfortable.
  
  
• Hartpury’s Second Half Surge – Between 50-65 minutes, they transformed the game: two scores and a penalty to go from trailing to being ahead by 11.
  
  
• Zheng’s late try & Worcester’s fight – Gave hope, made it tense, but not quite enough in those final moments.
  
  
  

🌟 Star Players

Harry Bazalgette (Hartpury) — Steady head, reliable boot, big kicks under pressure. Might not make the flashy highlight reel, but without him Hartpury lose this one. 

Roma Zheng (Worcester) — Two tries, constant threat out wide. When things looked bleak, he was there to bring Worcester right back into range. 

Louie Trevett (Hartpury) — Powerful battering‐ram of a prop, his close-range try helping ice the momentum.

Khalik Kareem & Lloyd Williams (Worcester) — Both gave plenty in defence and attack, though discipline cost them; still, Williams’s try before halftime showed opportunism

🎯 Aftermath & Big Picture

Hartpury emerge from this with a statement win: defeating a resilient Worcester side on home soil, finishing strongly, showing that when the pressure builds they can not only withstand it, but turn it to their advantage.

Worcester, despite the loss, collect two bonus points (for four tries and a narrow margin). The fight was real & encouraging — but this game underlines how crucial discipline, control of errors, and handling pressure are in tight Championship matches.

For both sides, the game bodes well for the season: high stakes, fine margins, and a league where every play, every decision, can tilt the balance.

🎉 Final Word

A match that will linger in the memory — big hits, near misses, momentum swings, and a finish full of heart.

Hartpury will be breathing easier tonight, their fans roaring in triumph.

Worcester, proud but pensive, will replay the moments –

the yellow cards, the missed kick, the chances barely grasped.

In Champ Rugby, this is what it’s about.