Exeter’s Houdini Act as Moment of Genius Edges It

In challenging conditions, with rain lashing down at sporadic intervals, Exeter suffered a blow just three minutes in as winger Toby Williams was taken out in the air, landing dangerously on the turf. After several minutes of treatment, he was able to leave the field under his own steam, replaced by Jordan Bond.

After a cagey opening, in part due to the conditions, Exeter opened the scoring on 8 minutes through a Harry Bazalgette penalty, the only time they would lead until the final whistle, after Beckett were punished for pulling an arm in the lineout. From here on in, it was all Beckett, as they set up camp in the Exeter 22, regularly testing the defensive strength of EURFC, none more so than in the 14th minute where their winger Stephens looked to be over, only to be stopped by a try-saving tackle from Arthur Relton. On 17 minutes, Beckett levelled the scores with a penalty from fly-half Lloyd after Exeter’s scrum was caught in retreat. Beckett again looked to go through the phases, squeezing the life out of the Exeter defence.

They almost seized upon a defensive lapse to score in the 29th minute, only for a timely intercept from Richard Capstick to stop the score. It wasn’t until the 34th minute that Beckett scored the try to reward their dominance, through flanker Gulliver, who dotted down from close range after multiple pick and go efforts from the Beckett forwards. Despite Lloyd missing the conversion, Beckett were now controlling the patterns of play, stretching their lead further in the 38th minute via a drop goal from centre James. At half-time, Exeter trailed 11-3, with the misfunctioning lineout allowing Beckett to maintain forward dominance that was key to their possession-based game.

As the second-half started, Exeter emerged from the tunnel with a ferocity that hadn’t been seen in the opening 40, no doubt due to the proverbial rocket they received at the break. On 45 minutes, Exeter’s forwards finally got themselves into the game, driving for the Beckett line. Despite being held up, the start to the second half got the reward it deserved as flanker Richard Capstick burrowed over from close range after a quick tap penalty had caught Beckett unaware. Bazalgette’s conversion reduced the deficit to just a solitary point. Exeter’s ill-discipline had been their downfall in the first half and it reared its head again here, as they were penalised immediately from the restart for not releasing, allowing Beckett to stretch the advantage back to 14-10. The game had now entered a phase of tit for tat, with Bazalgette responding to the Beckett penalty with a thunderous kick of his own from 50 metres, to reduce the deficit again to just 1 point.

Beckett’s response, as previously, was again immediate, this time a converted score from Lewin after their fullback had evaded several Exeter tackles and put through an inch-perfect grubber kick. James’ conversion stretched the Beckett lead to 21-13. As Exeter’s lineout continued to falter, Exeter’s experienced heads took control in open play. After a crunching double hit from Capstick and Addison drew audible gasps from the crowd, Exeter began to pile the pressure on, being rewarded in the 71st minute via a Harry Bazalgette penalty, leaving the score at 21-16 in Beckett’s favour. Again, Exeter gave away a penalty straight from the restart, allowing Beckett the chance to effectively secure their grip on the win. The sight of the penalty striking the left upright and bouncing clear bought audible relief from the Exeter coaching staff as the side clung onto the opportunity to sneak a result by their fingernails.

Tensions mounted in the 75th minute as Relton was pulled back by a Beckett player when racing through to collect a grubber kick from replacement scrum-half Di-Chio, however the officials decided there was no foul and play was allowed to continue. With mere seconds left on the clock, Relton knocked-on attempting to collect a high ball, with many residing themselves to the disappointing prospect of back to back defeats.

What followed was a finish few could scarcely believe as Beckett looked for the up and under in the final play. With the ball taken expertly by Joe Elderkin, he swivelled his way out of contact before being taken to ground on the Exeter 10m line. In a split second, Relton saw a gap and picked from the base, screeching clear of the Beckett front-line defence, before stepping the fullback and just having the pace to evade Beckett’s fly-half to score out wide, to the jubilation of a packed out main grandstand at Sandy Park to level the scores at 21 apiece. It was a quite stunning individual effort from the winger, who showed his strength, speed and presence of mind to create something out of nothing. With the scores tied and under immense pressure from the onrushing Beckett player, Harry Bazalgette converted from the far touchline before being swamped by the delirious Exeter squad, securing a quite remarkable 23-21 win.

Words cannot do justice to the final seconds of this match, with the agony and ecstasy of sport captured in that moment at full-time, as the conversion sailed through the posts; the Exeter players swarming the pitch in delight, as the Leeds Beckett players fell to the ground in sheer exhaustion. Credit must go to Beckett who were phenomenal throughout the game, undone by a moment of sheer genius from Relton and the nerveless kicking of Bazalgette.

For Exeter, it was a proper Houdini act, with Richard Capstick’s industrious work at the breakdown and Joe Elderkin’s refusal to be tackled before beating a man central to Exeter securing the win. A final word though must go to Arthur Relton and Harry Bazalgette, who’s stunning individual effort and metronomic like kicking secured an unlikely victory for Exeter in a game fitting of its venue at Sandy Park.