In a thrilling display of skill and teamwork, Exeter Chiefs triumphed over Gloucester with a scoreline of 31-7 in the Premiership Rugby Cup held at Kingsholm Stadium on Friday. This victory ensured that Exeter maintained their undefeated status in Pool E of the competition. The match showcased the impressive performances of each team’s players, but none more so than Ben Hammersley and Josh Hodge, whose individual brilliance contributed significantly to securing the win for Rob Baxter’s squad.
Exeter’s dominance was clear right from the beginning of the match. The Chiefs wasted no time in establishing their supremacy, with Rusi Tuima scoring the first try just four minutes in, giving the visitors a commanding start. The keen sense of opportunity and strategic play was evident as the Chiefs built their lead to 30-0 by halftime. Ben Hammersley further capitalized on Gloucester’s defensive lapses, slicing through the opposition defense to score Exeter’s second try. Following Hammersley’s cunning play, Will Rigg continued the assault by displaying remarkable pace and agility as he maneuvered past three Gloucester defenders before crossing for another touchdown, greatly bolstering Exeter’s scoreline.
However, the standout moment that truly highlighted the class of Exeter’s performance came from Josh Hodge. The 24-year-old fullback produced a remarkable individual effort, running the ball from deep inside his half. He skillfully threaded his way through an array of impending challenges from Gloucester players, combining clever footwork with speed as he executed a perfect one-two play on the left wing. Once in scoring position, Hodge added a spectacular try to Exeter’s tally, demonstrating not just his talent but also the comprehensive effect of Exeter’s attacking strategy. As the first half drew to a close, Stu Townsend added further points to Exeter’s dominating scoreline, thereby solidifying their grasp on a favorable route toward the knockout stages of the competition.
Gloucester eventually managed to break through Exeter’s seemingly impenetrable defense shortly after the hour mark. Val Rapava-Ruskin marked an impressive effort by sneaking under the posts for a try following a quick tap-and-go, but this score ultimately served as little more than a consolation as Exeter firmly maintained control over the match.
In other fixtures during the Premiership Rugby Cup weekend, Leicester Tigers demonstrated their prowess against Nottingham, securing a remarkable victory with a score of 70-29. An extraordinary nine different players found their way to the try line for Leicester, including notable contributions from Matt Rogerson, Archie Vanes, and Solomone Kata, among others. Nottingham’s Harry Clayton did his best to keep his team competitive, completing a hat-trick, with further tries from Michael Green and Harry Graham, but Leicester’s offensive display proved too formidable.
Meanwhile, in a closely contested encounter at Kingston Park Stadium, Newcastle Falcons emerged victorious over Sale Sharks with a last-minute score that brought the final tally to 28-27. Newcastle’s resilience was evident, as they saw tries from Jamie Blamire, Tom Gordon, and Ben Stevenson. The tension culminated with Max Pepper’s late try and Brett Connon’s pivotal conversion, which turned the tide in favor of the Falcons, allowing them to leapfrog Sale in Pool A standings.
Fans can keep updated with all the thrilling action of the Gallagher Premiership, along with the upcoming Autumn Nations Series and the Premiership Women’s Rugby events available to stream on TNT Sports and discovery+. As the competition heats up, teams are vying for glory, setting the stage for exciting encounters in the weeks to come.
