Gloucester upset defending champs

PREMIERSHIP MATCH REPORT: Gloucester recorded only their fourth Premiership victory of the season as they saw off champions Exeter 34-18 at Kingsholm.

Exeter boss Rob Baxter made 11 changes to the team that beat Leicester last weekend, with four players making their first Premiership starts.

The Chiefs face Champions Cup last-16 opponents Lyon next Saturday, then a possible home quarterfinal with Leinster, which undoubtedly influenced Baxter’s selection.

And Gloucester duly ended Exeter’s three-game winning run through hooker Henry Walker’s try double, a Charlie Chapman touchdown and a late penalty try that secured a bonus point, while flyhalf George Barton kicked 12 points.

Fullback Josh Hodge and flank Don Armand scored tries for the Chiefs, while Harvey Skinner kicked two penalties and a conversion.

Gloucester showed 12 changes from the team beaten by Harlequins last weekend, including returns for star wings Louis Rees-Zammit and Jonny May, while captain Lewis Ludlow and number eight Ruan Ackermann were among those recalled up-front.

Exeter’s line-up included full Premiership debuts for centre Dan John, prop James Kenny, lock Tom Price and No.8 Rus Tuima, while captain Jack Yeandle featured after serving a three-match ban.

And May was immediately heavily involved in the action, breaching Exeter’s defence and diving over their line, but the try was disallowed for a foot in touch.

Gloucester, though, only had to wait another two minutes before they opened their account, driving a line-out deep inside Exeter’s 22 and Walker touched down, with Barton converting.

But Exeter was off and running almost from the restart as Hodge claimed a spectacular solo score, bursting through a gap 60 metres out and cruising past Gloucester fullback Santiago Carrreras.

It was a stunning effort by the 20-year-old, and Exeter moved ahead after 13 minutes when Skinner kicked a close-range penalty.

Gloucester was rattled by Exeter’s response, and it got worse for them approaching the end of an entertaining opening quarter.

Centre Billy Twelvetrees was yellow-carded by referee Luke Pearce following a high tackle on Hodge, and with Gloucester still trying to regroup, Exeter pounced for a second try when their forwards shunted the home pack backwards and Armand scored.

Skinner’s conversion made it 15-7, but Gloucester hit back with a carbon copy of their opening try as Walker again rounded off a powerfully-driven maul.

Barton converted, and Gloucester then twice went close in as many minutes, as Ludlow was tackled inches short of the line by Skinner following an interception, before May’s knee brushed the touchline when he dived for the corner.

It was a dominant spell by Gloucester, but they could not increase their points tally before half-time as Exeter took a one-point lead into the interval.

Gloucester dominated the third quarter, and Rees-Zammit was twice heavily involved in attacking play as Exeter found themselves under sustained pressure.

The home side had to be patient, and they went back in front through a 53rd-minute try by Chapman, with Barton’s conversion making it 21-15.

Gloucester continued to press, and a Barton penalty took them further ahead before Skinner cancelled that out eight minutes from time with his second successful penalty.

But Exeter finished the game a man short after substitute prop Alfie Petch was sin-binned, and another Barton penalty wrapped things up for Gloucester ahead of a penalty try, with Exeter lock Price yellow-carded.

The scorers

For Gloucester
Tries: Walker 2, Chapman, Penalty try
Cons: Barton 3, penalty try does not require a conversion
Pens: Barton 2

For Exeter Chiefs
Tries: Hodge, Armand
Con: Skinner
Pens: Skinner 2

Teams:

Gloucester: 15 Santiago Carreras, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 Billy Twelvetrees, 12 Mark Atkinson, 11 Jonny May, 10 George Barton, 9 Willi Heinz, 8 Ruan Ackermann, 7 Lewis Ludlow (captain), 6 Jordy Reid, 5 Matias Alemanno, 4 Ed Slater, 3 Fraser Balmain, 2 Henry Walker, 1 Val Rapava-Ruskin
Replacements: 16 Santiago Socino, 17 Alex Seville, 18 Jamal Ford-Robinson, 19 Freddie Clarke, 20 Ben Morgan, 21 Jack Clement, 22 Charlie Chapman, 23 Charlie Sharples

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Josh Hodge, 14 Olly Woodburn, 13 Dan John, 12 Corey Baldwin, 11 Facundo Cordero, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 8 Rus Tuima, 7 Richard Capstick, 6 Don Armand, 5 Tom Price, 4 Sean Lonsdale, 3 Marcus Street, 2 Jack Yeandle (captain), 1 James Kenny
Replacements: 16 Elvis Taione, 17 Danny Southworth, 18 Alfie Petch, 19 Will Witty, 20 Charlie Wright, 21 Stu Townsend, 22 Arthur Relton, 23 James Short

Referee: Luke Pearce
Assistant referees: Sara Cox & Adam Leal.
TMO: Ian Tempest.

Source: AP & RugbyPass