Biggest Anniversary Game crowd yet sees University of Bath edged out by Exeter in BUCS Super Rugby rollercoaster at The Rec

A record-breaking Anniversary Game crowd was treated to a cracking South West derby as the University of Bath men’s 1st XV were edged out 38-35 by Exeter in a BUCS Super Rugby blockbuster, sponsored by Colour Studios.

More than 9,000 tickets were snapped up for the University’s annual city-centre celebration of student sport at The Rec and the match between the league’s top two more than lived up to its billing as momentum swung throughout the evening.

Bath found themselves trailing 18-7 midway through the first half, then had the crowd on their feet as they turned the game around with five fantastic tries to lead 35-25 with 10 minutes to go.

However, a converted try and two successful Ben Coen penalties saw Exeter edge ahead again and they somehow withstood some fierce pressure on their line in the closing seconds to claim the Anniversary Game trophy.

Captain Finn Worley Brady (pictured) was presented with the trophy by former Wales international Nicky Robinson, a guest of the match sponsors, and Rhys Harrington, Managing Director of Dragon Signs which, like Colour Studios, is part of the Dragon Group.

Bath co-captain Max Pearce, who looked to have scored Bath’s winning try with 10 minutes to go, said: “It is a tough one to take but fair play to Exeter, they really brought it to us and it was a good game. We can look at this two ways, we can either go away and think things went against us or we can take the hit and come back stronger.”

Centre Will Roue, who had a 100 per cent kick conversion rate for the third game running, added: “Exeter played really well but we played really well too. There were just a couple of execution errors and in a game of this quality that is the difference.

“It was another incredible rugby game to be a part of and the turnout was unbelievable. It was difficult to hear yourself think because it was so loud, we have to give the fans a really big shoutout.”

The Anniversary Game, which is organised by The SU Bath, is one of the highlights of the University of Bath’s student calendar and this year’s eagerly-awaited contest drew the biggest crowd yet.

A first half that ebbed and flowed saw Coen kick an early penalty for Exeter which was quickly overturned as Bath touched down from their first attack of the night, Sam Winters going over for a try converted by Roue.

Back came Exeter and two tries in four minutes from Jed Findlay and Tyler Bayley, the first converted by Coen, gave them a 15-7 lead which increased to 18-7 midway through the half when Coen kicked another penalty.

Bath looked dangerous whenever they had ball in hand, though, and, after having a try disallowed in the corner, they produced a well-worked move that ended with Hudson Powell Sporting Scholar Aiden Ainsworth-Cave diving over.

Roue added the conversion and was on target again six minutes before half-time, converting a try from Charlie Griffin as Bath forged ahead for the first time.

Bath took a 21-18 lead into the second half but a fumble straight from the restart allowed Exeter to kick to the corner and Sam Erskine went over from the subsequent lineout drive, Coen’s conversion putting the visitors 25-21 up.

Back came the hosts and a patient spell of possession ended with Winters surging through a gap in the Exeter defence to notch an excellent try, his second of the evening and Bath’s fourth to secure the bonus point. The faultless Roue was again on target with the extras.

The game remained firmly in the balance for the next 20 minutes but Bath had the big crowd pushing them on and grabbed the next try, captain Max Pearce touching down after a huge push from a lineout.

Roue’s conversion gave Bath a 10-point cushion with as many minutes to go but Exeter refused to be beaten and a clever defence-splitting kick sent Ollie Batson over a try converted by Coen. The visiting fly-half was also on target with a long-range penalty to draw the scores level and then punished a knock-on in similar style to put Exeter 38-35 up with four minutes to play.

There was time for Bath to force two lineouts and a scrum on the visitors’ line but Exeter managed to repel them all to secure the hardest fought of wins.

Bath, who are sponsored by Team Bath partners Bath Building Society and Rengen, will look for an instant response when they return to the Team Bath Sports Training Village on Wednesday 22nd October to face Nottingham on the UK’s only fully-recyclable 3G Pitch. Kick-off is 6.30pm and admission, as for all home matches, is free.

Match stats

University of Bath starting XV: 1 Claudius Wheeler, 2 Max Pearce (cc), 3 Alfie Griffin, 4 Aiden Ainsworth-Cave, 5 Rory McKnight, 6 Tate Williams, 7 Iwan Coyle, 8 Connor Treacey (cc); 9 Isaac Mears, 10 James Linegar, 11 Tyler Offiah, 12 Will Roue, 13 Charlie Griffin, 14 Austen Emens, 15 Sam Winters. Replacements: 16 Evan Gallagher, 17 Jacob Yates, 18 Diamond Ayiehfor, 24 Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi, 20 Alex Ridgway, 21 Roman Andrews, 22 Luc Anfield, 23 Jack Woods.

Tries: Winters 2, Ainsworth-Cave, Griffin, Pearce.
Conversions: Roue 5.

University of Exeter starting XV: 1 Josh Mann, 2 Tyler Bayley, 3 Tom Gulley, 4 Seth Findlay, 5 Felix Starkey, 6 James Maloney, 7 Finn Worley Brady, 8 Sam Erskine; 9 James Howard, 10 Ben Coen, 11 Ollie Miall, 12 Nic Allison, 13 Ollie Batson, 14 Noah Fenton, 15 Jed Findlay. Replacements: 16 Alex Osborn, 17 Jamie Miller, 18 Isaac Godfrey, 19 Charlie Evered, 20 Elijah Taylor, 21 George Newman, 22 Freddie Hirst, 23 Dewi Thomas.

Tries: Findlay, Bayley, Erskine, Batson.
Conversions: Coen 2.
Penalties: Coen 4.

Referee: Alan Chandrachud.
Assistant referees: Iain Kiy, Peter Dixon.
Fourth official: Ben Branson.