Gloucester dent Exeter's play-off hopes as punches fly
REPORT: Gloucester dented Exeter’s English Prem play-off hopes on Sunday, withstanding a comeback from the Chiefs to win 34-31 at Kingsholm.
Exeter are fourth in the table courtesy of two bonus points but are just one point above fifth-placed Bristol, with the top four sides qualifying for the end-of-season play-offs.
Max Llewellyn and Will Trenholm both scored two tries for Gloucester while Tomos Williams also went over and George Barton kicked three conversions and a penalty.
Tries for Ross Vintcent, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Greg Fisilau and Henry Slade kept Exeter in contention throughout a gripping contest.
The bonus-point win boosts Gloucester’s chances of securing Champions Cup qualification.
Vintcent put Exeter ahead in the opening moments but Gloucester hit back strongly, opening up a 14-point lead after touchdowns from Llewellyn and Williams.
England star Feyi-Waboso crossed and Slade converted to pull the score back to 19-12 but Gloucester’s Trenholm crashed over from close range and the score was 26-12 at half-time.
Fisilau scored early after the break to give Exeter renewed hope but a Barton penalty restored Gloucester’s double-figure margin.
Trenholm then extended the home side’s lead before a late flurry from Exeter, who added a penalty try and a score from Slade to close to within three points.
But with the clock in the red and the Chiefs attacking, flanker Ethan Roots was shown a red card for striking a Gloucester player in the face and Williams kicked the ball into touch.
The scorers:
For Gloucester:
Tries: Llewellyn 2, Williams, Trenholm 2
Cons: Barton 3
Pen: Barton
For Exeter:
Tries: Vintcent, Feyi-Waboso, Fisilau, Penalty Try, Slade
Cons: Slade 2
Teams:
Gloucester: 15 George Barton, 14 Will Joseph, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Ben Loader, 10 Charlie Atkinson, 9 Tomos Williams (captain), 8 Will Trenholm, 7 Lewis Ludlow, 6 Freddie Thomas, 5 Matías Alemanno, 4 Arthur Clark, 3 Afo Fasogbon, 2 Jack Innard, 1 Val Rapava Ruskin.
Replacements: 16 George Knowles, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Danny Eite, 20 Jack Clement, 21 James Venter, 22 Caolan Englefield, 23 Ollie Thorley.
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Campbell Ridl, 14 Paul Brown-Bampoe, 13 Henry Slade (captain), 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Stephen Varney, 8 Greg Fisilau, 7 Ross Vintcent, 6 Ethan Roots, 5 Lewis Pearson, 4 Rusi Tuima, 3 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Will Goodrick-Clarke.
Replacements: 16 Max Norey, 17 Ethan Burger, 18 Jimmy Roots, 19 Christ Tshiunza, 20 Tom Hooper, 21 Finn Worley Brady, 22 Tom Cairns, 23 Ben Hammersley.
Referee: Matthew Carley
Assistant referees: Sara Cox, Jamie Parr
TMO: Dean Richards
