Exeter welcomed Hartpury to the Rubber Crumb for their final home fixture of the season with little on the line beyond pride and bragging rights. Despite the stakes being low in the standings, both sides arrived eager to finish their campaigns strongly.

It was a shaky start for the hosts. A kick for touch from Ben Coen was mishit and carried too far into the dead ball area, preventing Exeter from settling into the contest. Matters worsened soon after when Rory Ellerby was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on following a mistimed interception attempt.

Despite being reduced to fourteen, Exeter regained territory and struck first thanks to a moment of skill from Tom Gulley. The prop feigned a short tip pass to his inside man before spinning out of contact and releasing winger Noah Fenton, who raced through untouched to score.

Hartpury responded quickly. Playing with real hunger and aggression at the contact area, the visitors capitalised on a messy lineout phase that unexpectedly opened space down the left. Alexander popped the ball inside to supporting scrum-half Morton-Smith, who raced clear to score, adding the conversion to put Hartpury ahead.

Exeter replied through the boot of Ben Coen, who steadied himself after missing his first attempt to slot a difficult penalty and edge the hosts back in front. The lead was short-lived, however, as Morton-Smith struck again just three minutes later, finishing off a slick move after receiving an offload from his fly-half to sprint clear for his second try.

Tyler Bayley, returning to the side, soon reminded the crowd of his trademark strength from the maul. Driving deep into Hartpury territory, the hooker broke away from the rolling pack to crash over and restore Exeter’s momentum, with Coen’s conversion pushing the hosts ahead once more.

Coen continued to make his mark, adding another conversion before producing a moment of brilliance. Intercepting inside his own 22, the fly-half ran the length of the pitch to score beneath the posts and calmly added the extras himself.

Yet Hartpury were not finished. A stroke of fortune kept them in the contest when a grubber kick ricocheted off Exeter full-back Jed Findlay and bounced perfectly into the path of Morton-Smith. The scrum-half gathered gratefully to complete his first-half hat-trick, reducing the deficit to six points as the teams headed down the tunnel.

HALF TIME – EXETER 25–19 HARTPURY

The second half began brightly for Exeter, who wasted little time extending their advantage. A powerful carry from lock James Boylan set the tone early, the second-row collecting the ball ten metres out before a surge from his supporting teammates propelled him over the line for the score.

Exeter sensed momentum and seized it. Just two minutes later, a huge driving maul carried the hosts from their own 22 deep into Hartpury territory, eventually forcing the visitors to collapse the rolling mass and concede a penalty. Exeter returned immediately to the lineout and once again turned to their dominant maul. With backs piling in behind the forwards for one final shove, the effort was rewarded as hooker Tyler Bayley crashed over for his second try of the afternoon.

With the wind firmly in their sails, Exeter refused to relent. Straight from the restart, winger Ollie Miall thundered into contact using all of his frame and power, requiring four Hartpury defenders to drag him to ground. As the visitors scrambled to reorganise, scrum-half Freddie Skinner spotted space and released Jed Findlay down the blindside. The full-back’s pace did the rest, gliding past the final defenders to score Exeter’s remarkable third try in as many minutes.

Hartpury, however, were not finished. A lineout miscommunication from Exeter presented replacement hooker Fallon with his chance, ripping possession and bundling over to reignite hope for the visitors. That hope grew moments later when inside centre Harris crashed through Exeter’s defensive line from another lineout move to keep the pressure firmly on the hosts.

Yet Exeter would not allow the contest to slip away. With the game entering its closing stages, Freddie Skinner sniffed out space around the ruck and sniped through himself for a decisive score that effectively sealed the result. A late Hartpury try narrowed the margin, but it served only as consolation as Exeter closed out an entertaining encounter 53–40.

The final whistle echoed around the Rubber Crumb - and for many players in the side, for the final time. For those men, it marked not only the last home game of the season but their last appearance in green and white colours on home soil. The departing cohort left the field to a chorus of applause, their years of commitment and effort recognised by teammates, supporters, and coaches alike. It was a fitting send-off, a performance full of energy, resilience, and pride - and a reminder of the legacy those players leave behind as Exeter begin turning the page toward the next chapter.

FULL TIME: EXETER 53 - 40 HARTPURY