Giles Heagerty was again left disappointed with his side’s discipline and defensive frailties as they came away from a heavy defeat at the hands of fellow newly-promoted side Hartpury College.

The Blues conceded six second-half tries and received two yellow cards in the first half.

An apparent inability to play the conditions made things twice as hard for them in gale force winds.

“We didn’t play the conditions well in the first half,” said Heagerty. “We were spending far too much energy playing in our own third when we needed to just put the ball down and use the wind, which was very frustrating seeing as we talked about it before the game.

“You’ve got to want to tackle, and that was the difference between the two sides – they barely missed a tackle and I dread to think how many we have missed.

“If you miss 10 or more tackles in a National One game, you’re going to be in bother.

Billy Robinson's late try was scant consolation for coach Giles Heagerty
 

“We’ve been penalised and had men sent to the bin again, it’s just the same old story and people need to start responding in a more positive manner.”

Heagerty pointed out that the players must work to stay focused on field as there is only so much a coach can do – personal discipline is down to the players to maintain.

“The coaching staff are not on the field, we need to be more clever, we need to understand what the referee is saying and work to keep them onside, we have failed to do this on too many occasions this season.”

The Blues had made seven changes to the squad facing Hartpury College, and another frustration of Heagerty’s is the continuing inability to be able to pick a consistent line-up.

“Compare the two team sheets, that amount of change is going to have an impact on the game,” he pointed out. “Some changes are enforced by injury and some forced by unavailability.

“Ultimately we have not adjusted very well although Elliot Millar-Mills and Frankie Barker had the best games they have had this season.”

The Blues boss expects a big reaction from his men when they host Darlington Mowden Park at Priory Park this weekend.

“There needs to be a response physically, as well as mentally,” he added. “We have to front up and put bodies where it hurts.

“If people can start doing that then things will start going our way.”