Will Gupwell at Epinal Way.

For the second round of the BUCS Super Rugby, season Exeter made the trip away to Loughborough for what always promises to be a tough encounter.

After defeat to Hartpury to open the campaign, it proved to be a second frustrating match in as many weeks for EURFC.

It was Exeter who started off the game well; Max Bliss put an excellent kick down field which was fumbled, and Loughborough only cleared as far as their own 22. This allowed Exeter to have the majority of the possession early on, building the phases nicely in the middle third.

And EURFC struck first, making the most of the early dominance in possession; they spread it wide for Kofi Barton-Byfield to go in untouched in the corner, but the tough conversion was missed.

The home side looked to respond, as they made a break down the wing, but after a forward pass their momentum was halted. However, from the resulting scrum, the home pack made their presence felt. They won a penalty and opted for the posts, which fly-half Charlie Titcombe converted to close the gap to two points.

It didn’t take long for Exeter to re-open the gap in the score though. After an excellent clearance kick from Barton-Byfield; Exeter turned the ball over at the lineout and spread it quickly to Benjy Joseland, who showed the Loughborough defence a clean pair of heels, to break down the wing and go under the posts. This time Barton converted easily.

However, Loughborough weren’t going to sit down quietly. Discipline was becoming a problem for Exeter, allowing Loughborough to get up to the five- metre line. Penalties kept being conceded and Loughborough chose to go for the scrum hoping their dominance would prove true.

After giving away another penalty for going off his feet, Dan John was shown yellow and it didn’t take long for the hosts to get a try, with a few nice hands allowing the fullback to go over out wide.

Off the restart, Loughborough maintained the pressure; however an excellent turnover from Oli Burrows relieved some of it and allowed Josh Barton to clear to halfway. However, Exeter couldn’t hold off for long, as Loughborough finally converted, with James Langston cutting a lovely line to go in right under the posts.

It was all Loughborough now and they made the most of a kick not going out from an Exeter penalty to camp themselves in the Exeter half. Much to the relief of the EURFC faithful, they managed to hold out, keeping themselves within a score.

The half ended with the clock in the red, as Loughborough earned a penalty just inside the Exeter half for not rolling away. Titcombe opted for the posts but saw his effort drift wide.

HALF TIME SCORE: LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY 15:12 EXETER UNIVERSITY

The second half got back underway with Loughborough continue to apply the pressure. It resulted in a half break pinning Exeter back defensively however a brilliant turnover once again relieved the danger.

It didn’t take long for Exeter to march back up the pitch and after earning a penalty on halfway, Ben Hammersley opted to kick for the posts, as he did a few weeks before. However, this time with the wind against him he pushed it just wide.

Exeter were dominant in defence in this phase of the game, with some massive hits coming in. Loughborough though, were still looking threatening, as they looked to make a break down the wing, only for Todd Muil to make yet another crucial turnover.

The boys remained physically dominant, with Tom Harris making an excellent carry, sitting down a defender running right over the top of him! This clearly energized the EURFC boys, as they started to bring the fire, building some nice attacking phases and excellent carries.

Possession ultimately ended with a knock-on and, after conceding a penalty the home side stuck it five metres out. Following the lineout, a few phases, ended with Ben Smith diving over in the corner and the conversion meant Exeter now trailed by ten.

Following the try, Exeter were stuck in defensive mode with the momentum fully with the home side. But the side showed how defence can sometimes be the best for of attack, with Sam Higginson charging down an attempted box kick and chasing it the full way down, right into the dead ball zone, managing to ground the ball for a superb score. Hammersely converted expertly from the touchline, closing the gap to three points.

It seemed to be all falling into place for the Exeter side, after earning another penalty on the halfway line but after trying for the posts, Hammersley excruciatingly missed and from the resulting clearing kick Loughborough earned a penalty themselves.

That seemed to be it for all hopes of a victory for the visitors. Loughborough converted the pressure and spread it wide, with the winger diving over in the corner and Titcombe once again converting, stretching the lead even further.

Things went from bad to worse for the EURFC side, as a loose pass in the middle third allowed the Loughborough player to kick it along the floor, but he knocked it on, much to the relief of the EURFC side.

This was another tough loss for EURFC, on a night filled with frustration. All focus now is on Cardiff Met away next Wednesday, with both sides needing a win to kickstart their seasons.