Exeter take all 5 points at home to Cardiff Met

With both teams looking to play some expansive rugby, those in attendance were treated to an 11 try spectacle that had everything from interceptions and number 8’s picking lines that the very best outside backs would be proud of.

After a cagey opening, with both sides trading penalties, it was Exeter who struck first in the 16th minute, after a typically strong carry and offload from centre Joe Elderkin, flanker Cam Bullard fed Arthur Relton, who sprinted clear of the chasing defence to dot down. After a yellow card for Cardiff Met for a dangerous tackle, Bazalgette extended Exeter’s lead with another straightforward penalty. Cardiff Met responded quickly however, with their winger doing well to gather an opportunist kick through, before spreading the ball wide for the score. With the successful conversion, Exeter led 13-10 after 25 minutes.

Exeter were quick to restore their 10-point lead, with prop Johnson crashing over after several phases of the tight pick and go game supporters have become used to from Exeter. Exeter’s third of the afternoon came 10 minutes later, with Arthur Relton scoring his second of the game. After a strong break from Harry Tarling had drawn in the Cardiff Met defence, the ball was spread wide to Relton to finish off a well-worked team score. With Bazalgette’s conversion, Exeter extended their advantage to 27-10 at the break.

As the second-half got underway, it was Cardiff Met who came out of the blocks quickest, with a try similar to Johnson’s effort in the first half. A third try of the match soon followed on 50 minutes, with Cardiff Met again exploiting an overlap, allowing their winger to score his second of the day. With the successful conversion, Cardiff Met closed the game up, 27-24 in Exeter’s favour.

Despite the Cardiff Met comeback at the start of the second-half, Exeter’s tight defence remained superb throughout, led imperiously by Will Cutbill, who made crunching tackle after crunching tackle around the fringes. Exeter’s bonus point score came in the 57th minute, as Johnson again found his way over the line from close-range, soothing some Exeter nerves. On 61 minutes, Exeter scored their 5th through the impressive Paul Schroter. Replacement prop Finlay Richardson made a half-break, before a sumptuous offload to Albert Slade. From the resulting ruck, the ball made its way to Bazalgette who fed Schroter for the score, running a glorious line that many a back would’ve been proud of. Bazalgette’s conversion increased the lead to 41-24.

Two minutes later, Exeter scored again, with replacement Charlie Davies receiving a floated pass out wide and dotting down, the conversion extending the score to 48-24 with little over 15 minutes remaining. Davies’ second and Exeter’s 7th came in the 72nd minute as second row Yates rose well to steal a Cardiff Met lineout inside the Exeter half. From there, the ball was worked wide to winger Williams, who’s silky out the back offload found its way to Davies who raced in out wide. Little over three minutes later, Davies completed his hattrick in the most opportunistic fashion, brilliantly reading the Cardiff Met attack and pouncing for the intercept. With Bazalgette completing his second faultless kicking display in as many weeks, the scoreboard read 62-24 in Exeter’s favour.

There was still time for one last moment of drama as Cardiff Met went hunting a try bonus point. In the dying seconds, replacement Charlie Fethney put his body on the line, scooping up a loose pas from Cardiff Met to deny them the score and maintain Exeter’s healthy lead.

The coaching staff will be pleased with the amount of strong performances on the park, with Cutbill dominating the collisions in defence and flankers Bullard and Slade working in tandem to repel multiple Cardiff Met attacks. However, the last word should be reserved for Davies, who’s 12-minute hattrick was made all the more impressive considering he started on the bench.

Next up for Exeter is an away trip to Northumbria, as we look to continue our strong early season form.