Exeter secure a home Semi Final of the cup
Exeter faced Cardiff Met on the Rubber Crumb in the quarter final of the BUCS Super Rugby Cup. With the weather conditions wet and windy, it was forecasted to be a tough game for both sides. The game got off to a rapid start, with both teams eager to remain in the race for the cup. Cardiff Met’s discipline was lacking as Exeter were rewarded with two consecutive scrum penalties. This gave Exeter the advantage to make some metres in the opposition’s ’22. However the game quickly turned Cardiff Met’s way and their persistent attack in the midfield pressured a knock on for the Exeter side. Cardiff Met were powerful in the scrum, and after a quick break from the line, it was Met who put the first points on the scoreboard, with a try. After a successful conversion, Cardiff Met were leading in the first 10 minutes of the game. The boys knew they had to retaliate and were eager to level up with the opposition. Off the restart, the Exeter side were attacking in Cardiff Met’s ’22, with notable carries from Archie Hill and Will De Boehmler. Unfortunately, the boys in green were soon penalised for a handling error, with Cardiff Met breathing a sigh of relief. Cardiff Met were swiftly in Exeter’s ’22 and were awarded with a penalty try after a deliberate knock on from Exeter, which also resulted in a yellow card for the home side.
The opposition had secured 14 points on the scoreboard, and only 15 minutes into the game, and with 14 men on the pitch, Exeter knew they had to bring it out the bag, in order to stay in the game. Exeter were strong in their scrums and held out for Met to concede, the boys in green were rewarded with multiple penalties due to the stability in the front row. Fly-half Josh Barton decided to take a shot at goal, in order to put some points on the board, but the strike went wide. Exeter were quick at the restart and knew that another enemy in this game was going to be time. The home side were awarded with another penalty and Barton made an accurate kick into Met’s ’22. Momentum was building, and from the lineout into a maul, it was hooker Harvey Dunn who scored Exeter’s awaited first try of the game. Josh Barton secured the extra 2 points from the corner and the score stood at 7-14 with only a few key minutes left of the first half.
HALF-TIME SCORE EXETER UNIVERSITY 7-14 CARDIFF MET UNIVERSITY
After a tense first half of the clash, the Exeter boys knew that they had to turn the game around and secure some more tries. However, a late tackle from Jared Williams led to him being given a yellow card. With Exeter back to 14 men on the pitch, the home side needed to recalibrate and try do something magic, to turn the game around. The visitors were well refreshed after the half time break and after a breakthrough out wide, Cardiff Met scored another try, extending their lead. With a missed conversion the score stood at 7-19 to the visitors, 50 minutes into the tight affair. It was evident that the game’s pace slowed down with a stop/start rhythm due to multiple penalties being conceded from both sides. As time ticked on, Cardiff met were penalised with a high tackle and Exeter regained possession. The boys in green were powering through their phases in the opposition’s ’22, and it wasn’t long before Max Courtis dived over the line from a few metres out. Barton secured the conversion, and the boys in green narrowed the score gap to 14-19.
With only 15 minutes left of the game, it was all to play for for both sides. Off the restart, the Exeter boys were making ground and with a penalty conceded by Met on their try line the home side knew that they had to create something magic. After tough attacking play from the side, Cardiff Met were strong in their defence. However, Luke Bralsford identified a space and drove over the line for the try that Exeter needed. Barton’s impressive strike, made Exeter take the lead with the score at 21-19 with 8 minutes left of the clash. An unfortunate penalty conceded in Exeter’s ’22 for not rolling away allowed the visitors to reclaim the lead after a successful penalty kick. Exeter had a lucky escape as Cardiff Met missed the consecutive shot at goal, and with 4 minutes left on the clock, Exeter needed any points to secure the win. As the clock kept ticking, Josh Barton claimed the ball off a kick and with dynamic passes between him and Archie Hill, Barton raced down the wing and dived over the line for the winning try for Exeter. Barton soon converted his own try taking the final score to 28-22.
A tough clash for both sides, but it was the mighty Exeter who secured the win taking them through to next week’s semi -final of the BUCS Super Rugby Cup at home.
FULL TIME SCORE: EXETER UNIVERSITY 28-22 CARDIFF MET UNIVERSITY