Rugby firsts beat Bath emphatically in the 2016 South West derby

On Wednesday the 24th February, Exeter University played Bath at Sandy Park, the home of the Exeter Chiefs.

Over 4,000 students descended for what was to be a momentous evening of university rugby.

The Exeter Emeralds cheer squad had set the stage with their exuberant cheer routines, the pre-match pleasantries had finished in the corporate boxes, and the seething masses of boozed up Exeter ultras looked on from the gantry poised for the start of the game.

The teams took to the field and a ferocious first 20 minutes ensued. Both sides were seemingly prioritising gain-line success over physical health, as cataclysmic clashes occurred at every contact.

Ominous

The Exeter XV started the stronger and hammered hard on the Bath line. Continued pressure led to the first points scoring opportunity of the game which were seized by Exeter fullback Gav Parker who dissected the posts to make it 3-0.

However, it wasn’t long before the plucky Bath team strung together a few phases of their own and forced a penalty that was kicked to restore parity – 3 all.

From this point on, Exeter began to assert their dominance with prop George Beale and his front row compatriot Paul Davis both crossing for trys. Parker’s metronomic kicking added the extras, and Exeter were sitting pretty on a 20-3 lead at the interval.

For better or for worse, the break gave the fans a chance to head to the bar to enjoy one or two cold ones, in an effort to restore their energy for the second half. Returning to the stands with freshly lubricated larynxes, onlookers readied themselves for the remaining 40 minutes.

Team mascot: Snappy

Before the rugby resumed, the Emeralds took to the stage once more and were greeted by a rousing rendition of Adele’s “Someone like you”. Said rendition exposed the softer side of the often criticised EURFC, as they illuminated the fact that despite all the male bravado and laddish Top-Top antics, all they really want is a girl to call their own (respectively).  Second team player Hugh “Benger” Campbell was in particularly fine voice for this one – his efforts are to be recognised as a genuine plea.

With proceedings back underway, the momentum continued to grow with Exeter’s ruthless physicality proving too much for Bath to handle. Rising to the occasion in emphatic style were half backs Sam Waltier and Ollie Claxton who ran the show with a concordant mix of pragmatism and flair. Equally effective were flankers Matt Eliet and Harry Ledger, who performed with a dogged determinism from start to finish.

It was the Exeter line-out that proved to be the most obvious difference between the two sides with captain Sam Skinner orchestrating proceedings to great effect. Such set piece dominance resulted in two second half trys, one from the bullish Tom Lawday and another for Skinner himself.

The highlight of the game came when maverick substitute center Jacob Knight profited from the sniping brilliance of the mercurial Waltier to dot down under the posts, making the Exeter lead unassailable.

Nevertheless, the resilient Bath side managed to grab themselves a score before then final whistle, but it was little more than a consolation try before order was restored with a final Exeter score from the towering second row Fred Hosking.

The final whistle blew with the score at 46-8 to Exeter, a comprehensive win that secures their place as as table leaders and league winners.

Winning the league means that Exeter will progress into the into the knock out stage of the National Cup with a clash against the side that finish in fourth place in the corresponding Northern League, which will be played at Topsham Field in a few weeks time.

A massive thank you from EURFC to all that came down to support, it is this support that makes this annual fixture such a memorable occasion.

VICTORY!