By TOM JEFFREYS
Exeter……………………………………………….31
Tries: J Gulley 29, Joseland 43, 68, 76
Conversions: McCaig 31, 44, 69, 77
Penalties: McCaig 12
Loughborough…………………………………35
Tries: Preen 20, Smith 33, Eckersley 57, Penalty 61
Conversions: Meredith 21, 35
Penalties: Meredith 17, 26, 40+2
Loughborough claimed a their first BUCS Super Rugby Championship title, and first in any national championship for 14 years, with a determined 35-31 win over league champions Exeter.
In a repeat of last year’s dramatic 48-44 extra time thriller, Loughborough claimed deserved revenge as they held off a late Exeter comeback to resist the late drama that haunted them last year.
Exeter, who had lost just twice all season prior to the final, were denied an unprecedented third Championship title in a row, as well as an historic league and championship double.
The dominance of this Exeter side throughout the year highlights the gravity of Loughborough’s achievement: Exeter coasted to league victory, 15 points clear of second placed Loughborough on their way to a record 80-points final tally.
Their victories in the last two years were courtesy of winners from now Wales and Exeter Chiefs captain Dafydd Jenkins and Chiefs scrum half Tom Cairns, but a clinical performance from Loughborough meant this was one record too many.
It was a performance worthy of such an upset from Loughborough. They went into half time 23-10 up courtesy of Chris Preen and Seb Smith tries, despite Exeter’s Louie Gulley scoring.
The third quarter was the decisive period of the game, however, as Loughborough resisted an early Ben Joseland try to build a 35-17 lead thanks to a Dan Eckersley pick and go, and penalty try following an attack that had started in their own 22.
Two more efforts from Joseland presented a nervy finish, in which memories of last year’s final were surely looming large, but some disciplined and gritty defensive sets saw Loughborough claim a famous 35-31 victory.
Loughborough went into the half time break with a deserved 23-10 lead, but Exeter would’ve known they were their own worst enemy. Charlie McCaig and Morgan Meredith traded early penalties before Loughborough inside centre Chris Preen opened the scoring with a well-finished score.
Gifted possession from an Exeter missed kick to touch and consequent overthrow in their own territory, Preen received the ball on the back foot but wrestled off two defenders and stepped past fullback Hugo Ellerby to touch down under the sticks.
The try had signalled a shift in momentum given that Loughborough’s phases in the 15 minutes prior could be counted on two hands, and they kicked on through the boot of Meredith, who made the most of territory produced by a crossfield kick in his own half.
Exeter, however, were the next try scorers, with hooker Louie Gulley inevitably getting on the scoresheet for his 12th try of the season, this another of his catalogue of maul tries to give Exeter their first points from five 22 visits.
Undeterred, Loughborough made the most of more Exeter sloppiness to restore a ten-point cushion. Exeter’s clearance from the kick-off went straight out and Loughborough soon found themselves mauling from ten metres out; playing Exeter at their own game they held formation expertly for hooker Seb Smith to score.
Characteristic of Exeter’s half their kick off went out on the full giving Meredith’s uncompromising boot the chance to give his side a 23-10 lead at half time.
Despite a first half of working through phases to no avail, Exeter started the second half perfectly when continued phase play allowed fly half Ben Coen to put Benjy Joseland through a gap on halfway, the winger then showed balance and pace to pace round the drift defence and take the scenic route round fullback Elliot Gourlay to score.
However, it was in the consequent ten minutes that the feeling Exeter’s double just wasn’t meant to be really became glaring. The set piece that has become feared across the league began to falter, and from one such lineout turnover Loughborough showed ambition in attack and worked into their opponent’s 22 in an end-to-end move that allowed flanker Dan Eckersley to pick and go for a score.
It was just minutes after that Loughborough extended their lead to 35-17 when Ellerby deliberately knocked on to concede a penalty try and yellow card.
With the odds now stacked against them, Exeter needed their big players to step up, and Joseland did just that, intercepting outside his own 22 to score his 14th try of the season.
He then claimed his hat-trick with five minutes to go when Ellerby freed his arms to offload and give his winger a simple score in the corner; another of Exeter’s big names McCaig then produced a wonderful touchline conversion to give his side four points to turnover in as many minutes.
However, Loughborough’s big names were able to dig deep and swing back considerable Exeter momentum to deny them another last minute victory. With play exclusively in Loughborough’s 22, fullback Gourlay intercepted, only for Exeter’s Coen to haul him down in Exeter’s 22.
Despite being denied the try, Gourlay’s intercept presented the territory that gave his side the victory, with one last defensive set locking Exeter into their own 22 before the ball was spilled to seal Loughborough’s shock victory.
Featured image and videos are credit to BUCS
TEAMS
EXETER: Ellerby, Joseland, McCaig, Power, Gentry, Coen, Murray; Williams, J Gulley, T Gulley, Hallum, Bailey, Dorrell, Forsythe, Driscoll.
Replacements: McAndrew, Freeman, Cunningham Ash, Beckerleg, Worley Brady, Potter, Ribbons, Barton-Byfield.
LOUGHBOROUGH: Gourlay, Rowson, Langston, Preen, Kildunne, Meredith, Miles; Nixon, Smith, Scharink, Evans, Taylor, Lavin, Eckersely, Pichardie.
Replacements: Plunkett, Murphy, Smith, Dick, Mayell, Briers, Malone, Doyle.
Star Man: Dan Eckersley (Loughborough)
For exclusive stories and all the detailed rugby news you need, subscribe to The Rugby Paper website, digital edition, or newspaper from as little as 14p a day.
