UGRFC 2nd XV 0-60 EURFC 9th XV
Gloucestershire University 2nd team’s tough start to their BUCS rugby campaign continued as they were swept aside 60-0 by a strong Exeter side.
The score line does not reflect what a closely fought contest it was for just under an hour in Cheltenham, when eventually injuries and positional switches got the better of the hosts.
Exeter secured a bonus-point inside half an hour and their superior fitness told as they punished some tired Gloucester University defence.
The home side finished a tough afternoon with 14-men after full-back Matt Parker was shown a yellow card for foul play.
With two players dropping out earlier that morning, late changes were enforced by coach Chris Mooney, who had the returning Calum Rivers-Cole to thank for making himself available at short notice.
A strong crowd saw the hosts settle into the game well after conceding an early try from a blistering Exeter counter-attack.
Hooker Jason Blake made his presence felt in the early exchanges making plenty of dominant tackles, stopping the visitors at source.
Although the Devonian outfit scored three more times before the end of the first-half Gloucester were far from out of the contest.
Half-back pairing of George Gazzard and Niall Reilly guided their team well, challenging the Exeter back-three with some clever kicking.
It only took one small error to allow the away side in for another score however, as their full-back scored a brilliant long range try.
The second half saw more of the same as Exeter continued to extend their lead, not without some valiant individual performances from the hosts.
Will Fogg, Tom Gamble and Tre Hendricks worked tirelessly on both sides of the ball to stifle the Exeter attack, as well as provide the home side more bright moments going forward.
A nasty injury to Captain Reilly saw him leave the field after he got caught trying a cross-field kick that was nearly collected by the onrushing Gamble.
This was the closest Gloucester came to scoring all afternoon.
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The floodgates opened in the closing minutes as Exeter flexed their offensive muscles, and a difficult afternoon was capped when full-back Matt Parker was sin-binned for an off the ball incident with just minutes left.
First year student Samuel Stockton made a brilliant impression in the closing moments as he made some ferocious tackles, however his efforts were in vain as the final whistle sounded with the score at 60-0.
The 2nd team’s BUCS season takes a break next week, before resuming on Wednesday 1st December as they host Southampton.
Gloucestershire University Line-up:
1. Callum Rivers-Cole
2. Jason Blake
3. James Sampson
4. Logan Chamberlain
5. Will Bonsor
6. Tre Hendricks
7. Tom chamberlain
8. Mousa Kamara
9. George Gazzard
10. Niall Reilly (C)
11. Tom Gamble
12. Jack Gorringe
13. Will Fogg
14. George Ballard
15. Matt Parker
16. Caden Ash
17. Connor Crawly
18. Samual Stockton
19. Euan Carney
20. Joe Hillman
21. Andy Grimshaw
22. Issac Jones
