Southend 31
Hartpury College 41
Hartpury recovered from a 31-15 deficit early in the second half to register a bonus-point victory over relegation-threatened Southend and seal third place in National Two South.
After last week's disappointing loss at home to Henley that effectively ruled them out of the promotion race, Hartpury travelled to Essex with the weight of expectation off their shoulders.
There was little riding on the game for John Barnes' men, but the college side showed great character to fight back and claim their 19th win of the season, which, combined with Redruth's loss at Clifton, also secured their highest ever league finish.
The visitors dominated the opening exchanges and Elliott Stooke nipped over on the blindside to grab their first try after five minutes.
Hartpury subsequently lost Chad Thorne to the sin bin following a punch-up, with Rob Kirby kicking the resultant penalty.
But the Gloucestershire side's dominance continued and quick hands put lock Stooke in for his second after George Boulton's penetrating break.
This served as a wake-up call to Southend, who drew level when, after several phases, Kirby spun over for a try that he converted himself.
Kirby released Tom Ashton on 29 minutes and added the extras as the hosts went ahead for the first time, but, in a first half resembling basketball, Hartpury's Reuben Haile retaliated with five points from the kickoff.
Danny Cleare's try and Kirby's third conversion extended Southend's lead to 24-15 at the break, the former pouncing upon a ball that spilled out of a ruck to race home from halfway.
And the game looked safe for the home side six minutes after the restart when Chris Vaughan grounded a Bradley Burr grubber kick under the posts, Kirby on-target with the conversion again.
But Hartpury refused to submit and Steph Reynolds' sublime solo effort from inside his own half three minutes later, improved by Craig Jackson, gave them hope.
Southend's Andrew McLintock then saw yellow, and Reynolds danced over seconds later to bring Hartpury to within touching distance.
And the visitors' comeback was completed four minutes from time when patient phase play allowed Haile, who showed tremendous strength to shrug off three defenders, to touch down in the shadow of the uprights. Luke Cozens converted.
Southend continued to battle and a Kirby attempt to snatch a draw from the tee drifted wide.
But they ended up without even their losing bonus point as Gareth Evans picked up and powered over from a five-metre scrum at the death, with Cozens slotting the extra two.
SOUTHEND: R Kirby; D Cleare, T Ashton, C Vaughan, L MacGeachy; B Burr (J Jones 79), S Arnott (J Daly 53); J Armitage, A Ferrier, T Bailey; A McLintock, A Barker; C Green, S Fombo (H Hudson 76), D Legge. Not used: C Strachan, C Keenan
HARTPURY COLLEGE: C Jackson; S Reynolds, G Boulton, S Rodwell (A O'Meara 41), R Haile; T Stevenson (L Cozens 53), G Hancox; J Gibbons, C Fortey (C O'Connell 69), C Thorne (D Crompton 64); E Stooke, W Graulich; T Ailes, L Wilkinson (S Pitchford 69), G Evans
Referee: Graham Dickens (RFU)
