HARTPURY suffered a second successive Champ Rugby defeat as unbeaten Ampthill fought back to claim a 33-24 victory.

The hosts were playing their first home game of the new season after beginning the campaign on the road, with a 42-40 victory at Caldy followed by a 29-15 defeat at Doncaster Knights.

Hartpury made the brighter start and opened the scoring after 18 minutes when flanker Caio James powered over from close range.

Harry Bazalgette was unable to add the conversion, but the early try gave Hartpury a 5-0 advantage against an Ampthill side.

The visitors responded ten minutes later. Efan Jones collected from the back of a scrum and released fly-half Will Roue, who spotted a gap in the Hartpury defence and raced through to score beneath the posts.

Roue converted his own try to edge Ampthill 7-5 ahead, but Hartpury quickly regained the initiative.

Pressure in the wide channels created an opportunity for Ollie Allsopp, who crossed in the corner after 33 minutes to put the home side back in front at 10-7.

Ampthill hit back five minutes later, using their driving maul before Harrison Courtney forced his way across the line, with Roue's conversion making it 14-10.

The visitors then produced an eye-catching move two minutes later. Roue chipped ahead for Fraser Rawlins, before Elliot Gourlay's grubber was gathered by Tyler Offiah, who finished in the corner.

Another Roue conversion gave Ampthill a 21-10 advantage at the interval.

The home side made an immediate response after the restart.

Gourlay was adjudged to have illegally prevented a Hartpury try in the corner and was shown a yellow card, with the referee awarding a penalty try after 44 minutes to reduce the deficit to four points at 21-17.

Ampthill again found an answer, however, as Tayo Adegbemile powered through the Hartpury defence to score the visitors' fourth try after 55 minutes.

Roue converted to stretch the advantage to 28-17 and restore Ampthill's 11-point cushion.

Hartpury refused to go away and Allsopp grabbed his second try of the evening after 69 minutes.

Bazalgette added the conversion to bring Hartpury back within four points at 28-24 and set up a tense finish with over ten minutes remaining.

But it was Ampthill who landed the decisive final blow.

The visitors put together a powerful line-out drive and Adegbemile crossed for his second try of the night after 74 minutes, pushing Ampthill nine points clear and denying Hartpury a losing bonus point.

The 33-24 victory maintained Ampthill's perfect opening to the campaign, with three wins from three, including two away from home.

For Hartpury, it was a second straight defeat after their loss at Doncaster and left them with one victory from their opening three league games.

Hartpury had entered the fixture hoping to build on last season's play-off appearance and make a winning start on home soil, but Ampthill repeatedly responded whenever the hosts threatened to take control.

Despite scoring four tries, including Allsopp's double, Hartpury were ultimately punished by Ampthill's productive spell immediately before half-time.

Courtney and Offiah's quickfire scores turned a three-point deficit into an 11-point interval lead, before Adegbemile's second-half double ensured Ampthill left Gloucestershire with all five points.

Hartpury now face a trip to Ealing Trailfinders as they look to return to winning ways in their next league outing.