EURFC made the perfect start to their 2021/22 BUCS Super Rugby campaign, as they clipped the wings of Swansea University, in an emphatic 64-10 victory.

First half tries from Benjy Joseland, Eddie Bullock (2,) and Jacob Morris, saw the bonus-point wrapped up before the break, with further scores in the second half from Arthur Relton, Dan John Tom Hitchcock and Dafydd Jenkins, alongside 24 points from the boot of Josh Barton, completing the rout.

After such a long period of time without any university rugby, the Swansea crowd were in fine voice ahead of kick-off. Their side started on the font foot too, flyhalf Gwyn Parks slotting an early penalty to reward the Swans for their early territory.

The Exeter response though was swift. After an incisive break from Dan John nearly bought up the first try of the evening, fullback Joseland showed a set of twinkle toes to dot down in the corner, after being sent through by Charlie McCaig, Barton adding the conversion from the touchline.

They were nearly in for a second soon after, Olly White reaching out to dot the ball down after being found in space by Barton, only for the referee to rule that his foot was in touch before grounding the ball.

It didn’t matter though, as moments later, Exeter scored their second. After stealing the Swansea lineout, the ball was worked through the hands, before a pinpoint grubber on the gain line from Barton was gathered by Bullock to score his first.

Two Barton penalties kept the scoreboard ticking over, as Swansea’s defence struggled to live with the speed of the Exeter attack, flanker Peter Vickeres seeing yellow for a high tackle on EURFC scrum half Will Yarnell near the try line.

On the half hour mark, the third score of the evening came Exeter’s way. After Barton’s attempted pass had been intercepted following some lovely interplay from Relton, John and Joseland, Swansea’s clearing kick was fielded by Exeter. From there, Yarnell spotted a gap and burst through, feeding prop Jacob Morris, who showed a turn on pace many backs would be proud of to race through, rampaging over the final defender to score under the posts.

Trailing by 24 points at this stage, Parks attempted to drag his side back into the match with a penalty on 35 minutes. Much to the disappointment of the home crowd, his effort drifted wide, allowing Exeter to show their attacking prowess one final time in the half.
A beautiful tip-on from John sent Joseland charging into the Swansea 22. With the ball recycled quickly, Barton and McCaig combined to send Bullock free down the wing for his second score, Barton again converting from the touchline to keep up his 100% record from the tee.

There was to be one final chance for Swansea right at the end of the half, as Exeter’s ill-discipline gave them a prime attacking opportunity. In truth, the Swans looked dangerous when they had ball in hand throughout the half, but they weren’t quite able to get the ball down in it’s final act, Exeter managing to hold the ball up and avert the danger to see out the half.

HALF-TIME: SWANSEA UNIVERSITY 3-34 EXETER UNIVERSITY

After the entertainment of what was a frantic first half, it was perhaps understandable that the pace of the game dropped after the restart.
Less than a minute into the half, Barton kept the scoreboard ticking over with another coolly struck penalty to quieten the Swansea fans returning to the stands after going in search of some half-time refreshments.

Minutes later, EURFC very nearly had another score, McCaig sending the impressive Archie Hosking free through a gap. Unfortunately though, the number 8’s inside pass back to his centre drifted forward, denying what would’ve been a certain score.

With ill-discipline creeping in for Exeter, Swansea began to try and gain a foothold in the match, camping themselves inside the Exeter 22 and testing the defence with one off runners.

They though they were finally in for their first score of the afternoon on the 50 minute mark, as Yarnell saw his box-kick charged down, the referee’s whistle sparing the scrum half’s blushes.

After a lapse in concentration at the start of the half, Exeter looked to respond, and they nearly found the perfect answer. Replacement Toby Smith sent the electric Dan John free down the short-side. His inside pass to centre partner McCaig was then shifted on to Bullock, the winger being hauled down a metre short of the line, denying him his hattrick. Sadly, Morris was then deemed to have been held up over the try line, but Barton kept the scoreboard moving with another penalty minutes later.

Swansea continued to show adventure when given the opportunity in attack, Gwyn Parks and Rory Case combining through a little chip kick that momentarily left Exeter’s defence scrambling.

With 10 minutes to go, Exeter began to cut loose, against a tiring Swansea side, Arthur Relton crossing after an impressive performance from the winger. This score though was again about the 10-12 axis of Barton and McCaig, who combined with ease to send Relton screeching away into the corner.

Straight from the restart, Exeter were in again. Dafydd Jenkins failed to cleanly collect the restart, but the ball bobbled backwards off of him, straight into the hands of Dan John, who streaked through rounding the fullback to cross under the posts and bring up the half century.

Exeter were rampant now and were in again soon after. After Tom Hitchcock stripped the ball in contact, the replacement raced away and offloaded to Barton, who showed superb awareness to then feed the ball back inside for Hitchcock to run in unopposed for a try that marked an impressive impact off the bench.

It was now raining tries and this time, it was Swansea who got in on the act, replacement scrum half Harri Williams spotting a mismatch against an Exeter forward and racing through, to draw a huge cheer from the home crowd.

It was perhaps right though, that Exeter were the one’s to have the final say in the match. With the clock in the red, Dan John shrugged off the attentions of several would-be tacklers to drive to within ten metres of the Swansea line. Jake Murray’s pass was then slapped forward by a Swansea hand, but Arthur Thomas regathered, popping the ball to second-row partner Dafydd Jenkins to round off the evening, Barton adding one final conversion from the touchline to seal an impressive opening result for Exeter.

Next week will see the side head back on the road, as they take on champions Durham in another mouth-watering fixture.