Hornets development XV returned from St Bernadettes with a fine victory.

St Bernadettes 1st XV 12 pts

Hornets Development XV 38 pts

Hornets development team travelled to Bristol to play St Bernadette’s first XV and came away with a fine victory

The match was tightly contested for the first 20 minutes, with both teams having spells of good territory and possession.

The break came when Hornets defensive pressure paid off, following a handling error by Bernadette’s and a couple of hack ons, Dec Dorrington was able to dart over.

Hornets enjoyed a good spell with their ball carriers making good breaks, with special mentions to Bailey Jackson, Connor Davidson and Stu Vinnicombe, showing a good hand-off to make ground.

The visitors and Bernadette’s traded tries to make it 5-12 to Hornets at half-time.

The second half opened up with both teams trading tries again before Hornets were able to pull clear with a couple of unanswered tries, with a notable effort from Iain Cullum, making his first start on the wing.

As the game came to a close, it broke down a little with players having to play out of position, but it this was a step in the right direction.

Tries: Bailey Jackson (2), Dec Norrington, Dave Litt, Iain Cullum and Connor Davidson. Cons: David Litt (4)

Old Elizabethans 40 pts

Hornets 4th XV 45 pts

The fourth team took a full team to Old Elizabethans, but the home side could not raise a full side, so a decision was made for the game to be played at seven-a-side side.

The home team started brightly running in two early tries, but Hornets started to find their groove, with Milsom, Hall and Rendle linking well to put Higgins over. The game opened up and Howells put Johnson in for his first score.

Old E’s responded with some great running and ran in a fantastic try from deep. Hornets reacted well and with forwards Brown, Gardner, Hutchinson playing well, it was not long before Rendle scored. Fourth team debutants Grice and Nicholson linked up to put Davies through for a try that was celebrated intensely by his watching mother on the sideline.

The GBRS UK man of the match was former Bath and Irish international Higgins, who ran in five tries.

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