Bath’s BUCS Super Rugby winning run comes to a battling end as table-topping Exeter extend their perfect start
The University of Bath men’s 1st XV were unable to prevent table-topping Exeter extending their 100 per cent record as they were beaten 31-17 in Wednesday’s BUCS Super Rugby South West derby.
The Bath Building Society-sponsored visitors went into the match off four successive victories and gave Exeter a real test in the first half, responding to two home tries with touchdowns of their own from winger Oli Sedgwick and hooker Jasper Spandler.
Only two successful conversions from Exeter separated the teams at this stage but a third try on the stroke of half-time, again converted, meant the hosts were able to take a 21-10 lead into the interval.
That was how it remained for the opening 23 minutes of the second half, with both sides probing for what was likely to be a defining score, and it eventually went to Exeter as an interception allowed them to extend their advantage to 18 points.
The visitors kept battling and, after being held up on the line, they managed to force their way over through replacement Ieuan Davies for a try converted by Raff Weston. However, Exeter had the last word with a 78th-minute penalty to seal their victory.
Bath, who are also supported by Team Bath sponsors Rengen, now have three successive home matches at the Team Bath Sports Training Village – against Cardiff on 29th November, Durham on 6th December and Loughborough on 13th December. All kick-off at 6.30pm and entry is free.
Match stats
Exeter starting XV: 1 Jared Williams, 2 Joe Vajner, 3 Archie Owlett, 4 Joe Bailey, 5 Alfie Bell, 6 Lucas Dorrell (c), 7 Jack Forsythe, 8 Seb Driscoll; 9 Jake Murray, 10 Luca Mignot, 11 Zack Wimbush, 12 Chester Ribbons, 13 Charlie McCaig, 14 Hugo Ellerby, 15 Benjy Joseland. Replacements: 16 Louie Gulley, 17 Chris Freeman, 18 Tom Gulley, 19 Milo Hallam, 20 Josh Cunningham, 21 Orson James, 22 Ben Coen, 23 Kofi Barton-Byfield.
Tries: Ribbons, Vajner 2, Ellerby.
Conversions: McCaig 4.
Penalties: McCaig.
University of Bath starting XV: 1 Scott Kirk, 2 Jasper Spandler, 3 Billy Sela, 4 Will Jeanes, 5 Josh Dingley, 6 Mackenzie Graham, 7 Tom Cowan (cc), 8 Ted Johnson; 9 Elis Horgan, 10 Raff Weston, 11 Oli Sedgwick, 12 Ludo Kolade (cc), 13 Louis Hennessey, 14 James Short, 15 Iwan Price-Thomas. Replacements: 16 Max Pearce, 17 Archie Stanley, 18 Alfie Griffin, 19 Eddie Erskine, 20 Jack Bennett, 21 Iwan Coyle, 22 Ieuan Davies, 23 Will Roue.
Tries: Sedgwick, Spandler, Davies.
Conversions: Weston.
