Gloucester-Hartpury’s Premier 15s campaign kicked off with a home win against DMP Durham Sharks on Saturday.

Dominance in the scrum and relentless pressure in defence from the off meant turnover ball made its way out wide to Tatyana Heard. A beautiful step inside on the right wing and an out the back pass to Emma Sing gave the home side a five-point lead within the first five minutes of the game. The conversion was taken by Emma Sing.

Fierce attack from the kick receipt meant that Gloucester-Hartpury were once again in DMP’s 22. Kelsey Jones had the second score of the game running a hard tear away line from the back of the lineout maul, putting the score up to 12-0.

DMP responded with a series of hard forward carries. Unfortunately for the visitors, discipline issues meant that Gloucester-Hartpury won the penalty and kicked for the line.

Straight off the top of the lineout, the ball was distributed wide, where Kelly Smith made a dash to score under the sticks.

Another series of DMP penalties meant that the home side was once again given possession, where Gloucester-Hartpury took full advantage of their aggressive forward pack destroying the DMP scrum.

The ball was sent out wide to Sophie Tandy to dot down over the line on the left wing for Gloucester-Hartpury’s fourth try of the match.

The next score came from the forwards. Relentless pressure on the DMP defence with powerful forward carries put Georgia Brock over the line right under the sticks.

Almost immediately after the restart, Gloucester-Hartpury were straight back at it with a beautiful line from Emma Sing putting her over the white line for another score.

Just before half-time Emma Sing made another break through the defensive line, with Mo Hunt in support. After almost running the length of the field, a beautiful inside ball to the captain put her over the line for Gloucester-Hartpury’s final score before the break.

The second half saw a slower start but after a turnover at the breakdown and a cross field kick landing in the hands of Ellie Underwood to score, Gloucester-Hartpury were back at it. Conversions taken by Robyn Wilkins.

In possession and under pressure, DMP kicked from their try line to clear the ball but it was recovered by Sophie Tandy on the wing. After a series of carries, the ball landed into the hands of Connie Powell to score just left of the posts. A strong Gloucester-Hartpury scrum gave scrum-half replacement, Alicia Maude, a clean ball to make a great run, putting the home side in an attacking position that led the ball to the hands of Kelly Smith to score her second.

A series of DMP penalties put Gloucester-Hartpury on the visitors 5m line. Quick distribution to Ellie Underwood on the wing meant Gloucester-Hartpury were down for another score.

Straight off the restart, the ball was taken by debutant Amy Dale who made an incredible 30-metre dash through the DMP defence. The ball then found its way into the hands of Meg Isaac, also playing her debut match - who made an incredible run to score under the sticks.

Just three minutes later, Meg Isaac finds the ball again off of the back of a lineout to make another solid run for the line and scores her second try in her debut Gloucester-Hartpury fixture. In the last play of the match, a penalty taken quickly puts the ball in the hands of Ellie Underwood to score sealing her hattrick and concluding Gloucester-Hartpury’s stunning performance.

Scorers: Sing (2), Jones, Smith (2), Tandy, Brock, Hunt, Underwood (3), Powell, Isaac (2)

Conversions: Sing, Wilkins

Report by Ellie Gilbert

Gloucester-Hartpury kick off season with 84-0 win over DMP

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