Saturdays visitors Hartpury College RFC are flying high in the league, sitting in the silver medal position behind leaders Richmond RFC, having amassed 77 points, including 10 try bonus points and 2 losing bonus points.

They have won 16 games, whilst losing only five, have scored the most points in the league (659) and have the best points difference (337).

Their top points scorer is full back Gareth Thompson who has scored 181 points (47 cons, 19 pens) and their top try scorer is left wing Jonus Mikalcius (16 tries).

Hartpury College RFC present the biggest threat to the current progress of DMPRFC to date and have showed their credentials by the last outing we had at their place, when beating DMPRFC by the largest margin of defeat in all our National League One games (50 – 7) back in October 2015.

Previously to that, DMPRFC have never beaten Hartpury, as in the only two other games between the clubs, back in October 2014 at the Arena, they won 21 – 28 and then later on in January 2015, also prevailed 34 – 19 in the return.

So the game has extra significance for both sides, with Hartpury anxious to maintain that winning run and keep chasing Richmond and DMPRFC to break the ‘duck’, keep the ‘run’ going and continue on the journey up the table.

The win at Loughborough Students RFC (7 – 22)albeit very satisfying, proved costly, as centre Garry LAW sustained a bad leg injury that required surgery on the night and also flanker Luca PETILLO injured his thumb.

We wish both players a speedy recovery, but whether we will see them again on the field this season is a different matter.

Tries from lock Talite VAIOLETI, scrum half Bruno BRAVO and No. 8 Ollie HODGSON, together with two conversions and a penalty from fly half Warren SEALS was enough to subdue Loughborough Students in gale like conditions, with strong winds and driving rain.