The EDF Intermediate Cup run sadly came to an end at Hartpury College in the quarter final. Hartpury are a side with the closest of links to Gloucester rugby club and had been allowed to join the rugby pyramid at the lowest level - promptly hammering every league side in the West Country, as well as winning Twickenham finals in national competitions. 

The previous season they had beaten Wheatley Hills 85-3 in the final at Twickenham, so it's fair to say that the 31-13 defeat of West back on March 9th 2009 was one of their closer games of that era.

The teams that day  were:

Hartpury College: Jason Woodward (Wellington NZ, Bristol, Gloucester, Sale Sharks), Matt Betty (Gloucester, London Irish), Matt Evans (Canada, Cornish Pirates), Jonny May (Gloucester, Leicester, England), Paul Jarvis (Doncaster Knights), Sam Dimmick (Cambridge RFC), Sean  Lynn (Gloucester),  Matt Weller (Selkirk, Coventry),  Ben Hunter (Cambridge RFC, Doncaster Knights), C Turner, Will Waldron, Andries Pretorius (capt - Cardiff and Wales), Andy Rose (Scotland, Zimbabwe, Boroughmuir), K Haarhoff, Matt Gilbert (Bath, Worcester, Scarlets).

 Reps: Reece Durrance (Gloucester 'A'), A Price, Royce Cadman (Dragons, Doncaster Knights) B Field.

West: Iain Dixon [C Cheslin 20], Gareth Kerr, Peter Hodgson, Paul Moss, Andrew Cheslin, Jamie Connolly, Darren Thomas, Anth Carr [Capt], Tim Sawyer [Andrew Dixon 70], Carlo Robinson [Chris Stewart 70], Iain Robinson, Tom Dixon, Dan Boatman [Dominic Morrison 55], Aaron Myers, Paul Vinnicombe.

Reps: Colin Cheslin, Chris Stewart, Andrew Dixon, Dominic Morrison.

MATCH REPORT (photos by Mark Fletcher)

Well that was different. The rarefied atmosphere of Hartpury's academic facilities, coupled with the intense playing style of the all conquering home side, was a long way from the club rugby which we enjoy week in week out.

The home draw,which we never enjoyed in this competition, would have made for an even more interesting fixture but, in the end, the full time rugby playing students of Hartpury College were made to fight all the way by a dogged West.

We can take comfort in giving the Gloucester feeder side their hardest game since qualifying for the cup competitions, and in Aaron Myers we had the game's outstanding player. Hartpury included skipper Andries Pretorious, withdrawn from the England College XV which took on Ireland Students on Friday night, as well as centre Matt Evans who earned full International caps earlier in the season for Canada against Ireland and Scotland. They have been running in tries for fun in all competitions but faltered in the face of relentless West tackling in a tight first half. Sadly for the visitors the referee ruled that on too many occasions the laws had been infringed as the first half penalty count rose to 11-4 in favour of the hosts. Fly half Sam Dimmick took advantage scoring four penalties to just one reply from Paul Moss who struck his effort right on half time.

Iain Dixon had limped off off after 20 minutes to be replaced by Colin Cheslin. The second half was more open as West got to terms with the referee's interpretations - but only after right wing Martin Betty scored in the corner after a sweeping backs move to make it 17-3 after 44 minutes.

We came back strongly only to see a pass from Gareth Kerr loop into the hands of speedy centre Jonnie May who raced home from 60 metres to score under the posts. His over the top celebration included throwing the ball at Darren Thomas and so found himself on the way to the sin-bin before Dimmick converted his try.

Once again we came back and a break up the left involving Hodgson and Andrew Cheslin built up the pressure. Andrew Cheslin was judged to have been held up but from the resulting five metre scrum Paul Vinnicombe took the opportunity to dive over with Moss narrowly missing the conversion.

Dimmick then added to the scoreline with a 30 metre penalty before Matt Evans, showing his international class to make a break from his own 22, sent in May scoring his second try despite appeals from the West contingent for a forward pass.

Hartpury were used to to using their excellent fitness to run in points in the closing stages but it was West who finished the stronger. Gareth Kerr was denied an almost certain try when he kicked through, after yet another superb tackle from Peter Hodgson (shadowing Paul Moss, right)  forced an error from Evans. Sadly the referee had blown instantly for the knock on and brought play back for a West scrum. Replacement hooker Andy Dixon, on for Tim Sawyer, and prop Chris Stewart, on for Carl Robinson, came on to make their contribution to an excellent effort by the whole pack and promptly took three strikes against the head. We had to wait until the final minute to get the try our pressure deserved - Myers touching down after tremendous forward pressure on the home line with Moss again narrowly wide with the conversion.

With Hartpury fielding their strongest XV there was only ever going to be one winner of the game but West fought all the way against a style of rugby which is ruthlessly efficient. The home side's defence was excellent, even if at times it was on the edge, and they allowed West very little space in which to operate.

They had two other players sin-binned for cynical offences with Carlo Robinson also earning the same fate in the first half. But they were the first to admit they'd been in a game and to recognize Myers as the game's outstanding player.