Derby delight as comeback kings Bath end Exeter’s unbeaten start to BUCS Super Rugby season
The University of Bath men’s 1st XV forced a penalty try in the closing minutes to secure an excellent home win over Exeter and end their local rivals’ unbeaten start to the BUCS Super Rugby season.
A hard-fought South West derby at the Team Bath Sports Training Village saw the hosts twice lead through Will Roue (pictured) penalties in the first half, only for Exeter to respond with an unconverted try and penalty respectively to lead 8-6 at the break.
That gap was stretched to 18-6 in the opening minutes of the second half as Exeter quickly notched a converted try and penalty but Bath had recovered from 21-0 down to draw the previous week’s Anniversary Game against Hartpury and showed tremendous resilience once again.
Hooker Kepu Tuipulotu came off the bench to score his seventh try in five matches and Roue’s conversion closed the gap before relentless pressure from Bath was rewarded with three minutes to go as Exeter conceded a penalty try.
The 20-18 victory continues an impressive start to the season for Bath, who are sponsored by Bath Building Society and Rengen. They have now faced the other five teams to finish in the top six last season and suffered just one narrow defeat, by two points away to new league leaders Loughborough.
Next up is a trip to Leeds Beckett on Wednesday 30th October (2pm).
University of Bath starting XV: 1 Claudius Wheeler, 2 Max Pearce (cc), 3 Henry Mountford, 4 Max Mayor, 5 Aiden Ainsworth-Cave, 6 Harry Breeze, 7 Connor Treacey (cc), 8 George Doel; 9 Ieuan Davies, 10 Will Roue, 11 Oli Sedgwick, 12 Kit Evans, 13 Chris Streater, 14 Tyler Offiah, 15 Jack Woods. Replacements: 16 Kepu Tuipulotu, 17 Oban Baird, 18 Alfie Griffin, 19 Remi Siebanga, 20 Will Keylock, 21 Archie Friend, 22 Raff Weston, 23 Tom Hughes.
