AASE team second best in national final
The AASE scheme (Achieving Academic and Sporting Excellence) sees players up to under-19s level following an academic and rugby programme at Gosforth Academy.
In a one-sided final a young Gosforth Academy squad found the going tough, shipping seven first-half tries to an accomplished West Country outfit.
Jacob Morris opened the scoring for Hartpury with a try from a crash-ball line on seven minutes, Gosforth Academy having shown plenty of early ambition with their offloading game.
Ollie Adkins doubled their lead with a try from a driving maul in the left corner when a penalty was kicked to touch, and the West Country side had their third try before the quarter mark when lock Joe Howard stretched out an arm in the right corner.
Centre Morris cut through for his second and Hartpury’s fourth try on an incisive midfield running line, and from 28-0 down Gosforth had a mountain to climb.
Fellow centre Jack Reeves added his name to the score sheet on the half-hour, scrum-half Ewan Fenley following suit when he sniped into the right corner for a 40-0 half-time lead.
The scoring pattern remained the exclusive preserve of Hartpury as the second half got underway, Adkins ploughing over for his second try from a breakdown in the right corner.
But Gosforth Academy found the try that their endeavour deserved when a barnstorming driving maul down the right ended with a try for lock Joe Lashley, converted from wide out by fly-half Callum Pascoe.
Adkins completed his hat-trick for Hartpury as he wriggled over at close quarters on 53 minutes, and the flow of points continued when Louis Rees-Zammitt sped in down the left on the hour mark.
Morgan Passman registered Gosforth’s second try when the centre hit a straight line through the midfield to dot down between the posts, Pascoe converting.
Hartpury resumed their dominance when replacement Bertie Stretch rumbled over to take them past the 60 mark, in what turned out to be the last play of the game.
With the AASE season now finished attention turns to Newcastle Falcons Under-18s team, who have the following upcoming fixtures:
**Jan 6** v Wasps (home)
**Jan 13** v Northampton (home)
**Jan 20** v Sale (home)
**Feb 10** v Worcester (away)
**Feb 17** v Leicester (away)
**March 10:** National festival
