Durham….13
Exeter……14
Dafydd Jenkins late score ended Exeter’s six-year wait for BUCS Super Rugby Championship glory as they edged past Durham in a high-class final at Sixways.
In a tense affair that defied the Super Rugby norm of high-scoring contests, Durham nudged ahead with an early penalty before a brutal carry and finish from Tom Hitchcock sent Exeter into the lead.
Durham went into half-time ahead as Nick Jonas struck moments before the break, and it would not be until just under half an hour into the second half that the next points would come through another penalty.
But with Exeter still in converted score range, man-of-the-match Jenkins drove over from close range and they held to win a thrilling contest, to the sheer “relief” of Director of Rugby Keith Fleming.
“As the billing said it was the top two sides in the league going hammer and tong at each other over 80 minutes, and it was right down to the wire,” he said “I take my hat off to both sets of players they put in a real shift.”
“A lot of the boys have missed so much university rugby through Covid, they were feeling a little bit cheated out of the best years of their lives, so I’m just pleased for all of them that it has gone as well as it has.”
It was hard to pick a favourite coming into the game, with the League title race having gone down to the final day and both sides each having had one cagey and one comprehensive victory en route to the Final.
Exeter’s three changes, including the absence of regular skipper Olly White, to Durham’s one perhaps gave the northern side the edge on the teamsheets, and they drew first blood after sustained pressure gave William Nicholson a three point opportunity.
He struck it well to put Durham in front inside ten minutes, but a dominant spell followed for Exeter and they eventually converted their pressure.
Hitchcock was the man to provide the first try, hitting a fine hard line before crashing through three Durham defenders, with Alec-Lloyd Seed converting the score to give Exeter a four point advantage.
The men in green and white continued to dominate up to the half hour but stoppages for injuries on both sides, including Lloyd-Seed for Exeter, stunted their momentum.
Durham seized the opportunity to regain the initiative before Olly Walker, whose earlier missed tackle had been crucial to allowing Hitchcock to break through, terrifically redeemed himself.
The winger sped through before providing a delicious offload to Jonas, and Nicholson added the extras to send Durham 10-7 up at the break.
Exeter took the game back to their rivals, but were continually turned over on the edge of the 22 with Durham scrum-half Harry Craven the most prolific over the ball with three clean turnovers in the match.
But when Durham had their own chances to strike, they were similarly ineffective in that area of the field, and there were still no points scored as the game went passed the hour mark.
The moment that might have stuck in the Westcountry university’s mind, had they lost, will perhaps be the moment they turned down points, as they opted for a lineout despite winning a penalty in the Durham 22.
As Exeter’s fans gathered round the 5m line where the throw was to be taken, it went over the top of their lifting pod, before the ever-disruptive Craven snatched the ball and broke clear to relieve the pressure.
When Durham earned their own kickable shot, they took it, Nicholson taking his tally of eight with what looked as if it could be a decisive penalty.
But though points had been hard to come by, Exeter were still in converted try range and were about to launch their most brutal assaults.
First a break from full-back Dan John that almost led to a breakaway score, and then minutes later an incisive quick tap from replacement scrum-half Niall Armstrong, brought Exeter within five metres.
And finally a delighted Jenkins, who had been phenomenal all game, broke what had previously seemed an impenetrable purple defence to send Exeter’s fans into a state of delirium.
It came down to two kicks, one for each team, with Josh Barton nailing his conversion for Exeter to send them into a one point lead.
Next stepped up Nicholson for a Durham penalty soon after, who once again struck his kick well, but it agonisingly inched wide of the left-hand upright.
But Durham were not done yet, and would be a man up for their final attack as John headed to the sinbin for a deliberate knock on.
They mauled into the 22 and carried tightly to within metres of the Exeter line, but as Nicholson set up for what could have been a match winning drop goal, Durham were penalised at the ruck and Exeter could celebrate.
Jenkins said after the game: “It was nail-biting stuff, I saw Nicholson in the pocket and thought we were about to let it slip through our fingers, and it shows what a great team Durham are to push us all the way.
“It could have been any of us but I was just lucky enough to dot down the score, our boys were amazing today and I couldn’t pick a better team to be a part of.”
Durham captain Fred Davies will take consolation from the fact he is on his way to Bristol Bears next season, and was gracious in defeat despite the late heartbreak.
“Complete credit to Exeter, I thought they were outstanding all year,” he said “as an exhibition for BUCS Super Rugby I don’t think you can get much better than that.”
BUCS Women’s Championship final
Earlier, Hartpury women clinched victory in their own Championship Final as they beat Edinburgh women 36-22 with a ruthless fightback.
The teams were level at half-time, and Edinburgh might have had hope of following up their shock win against Durham in the semi-final as Meryll Smith’s brilliant interception try, followed by her own conversion, gave them a 19-12 lead early in the second-half.
And though her penalty on the hour put them back in front at 22-19, an Edinburgh yellow-card and sensational second half hat-trick for Hartpury hooker Amy Dale saw them to the title.
Nottingham clinch promotion to BUCS Super Rugby
Elsewhere at Kingston Park Nottingham clinched promotion to BUCS Super Rugby, relegating Northumbria with a 28-22 victory in a compelling game where the lead changed hands on several occasions.
Written by NICK POWELL
