It wasn’t the prettiest game the spectators got to enjoy. However, Exeter managed to hold out for a vital win. After heavy rainfall in the night, the pitch was deemed safe to play however, both sides knew that this game would be tough.

With a slippery ball, the game got underway, but Durham knocked it on, and we had our first scrum of the day, but there were plenty more to follow. The first ten minutes set the tone for the whole game, with the kicking battle being of paramount importance as well as the set piece.

However, it was Exeter who would break the deadlock first in this tight affair. After winning a scrum penalty, too much applause from the sidelines, Exeter were on fire in attack with some massive carries from the likes of De Boehmler and Hammersley. They got right up to the line, and it was Armstrong who sniped round the fringe of the ruck for the score. The conversion attempt hit the post, and it was a 5-0 lead.

The game wasn’t the best of spectacles and was more of a tactical clash between the two sides, with the kick battle and set piece taking the forefront. The highlights, however largely came from Exeter’s defensive abilities, with the back row putting in some impressive tackles.

Exeter had another chance just before the halftime break as Dan John gathered a loose ball in the backfield and put the kick long down the touchline, which rolled just short of the try line. The Durham player was forced to play it, and John tackled him over the line to give Exeter a five-metre scrum. Exeter carried off the scrum and looked to be over for the try, but the ref deemed it was held up, a common theme in the game, and Exeter went into the sheds only five points up.

HALF TIME SCORE: EXETER UNIVERSITY 5-0 DURHAM UNIVERSITY

The teams came out for the second half, and the game didn’t open up much more than when they went in. The first ten of the second period were largely uneventful, bar another massive defensive hit from Player of the day Lucas Dorrell.

However, on the fifty-minute mark, disaster struck for the home side as Kofi Barton-Byfield was shown yellow for a deliberate knock-on. In a game as tight as this being down a man was not what EURFC needed.

Durham made the most of the man advantage as they exploited the space where the binned winger would have been as they broke down the short side catching Exeter unaware, and the winger dove over for the score. With the conversion attempt successful Durham had a crucial two-point lead.

Conditions certainly dictated play for the rest of the second half. The kick battle was vital as both sides were trying to edge out a mistake from the other.

Eventually, Exeter got the break they were hoping for. The hosts won a scrum penalty, and Barton put it long; from the lineout, John made a half-line break that pushed Exeter right up to the line. Despite the best efforts of the pick-and-go’s, the try wasn’t coming, but Exeter did have a penalty advantage.

With the score as tight as it was, Exeter opted to take the three points as Barton slotted a crucial, high-pressure kick. With five minutes left on the clock, all Exeter had to do was hold out till the final whistle.

Exeter seemed to have a new lease of life following the points, as a good kick chase off the restart meant they had a lineout on halfway. This field position allowed them to get downfield, and they looked to be in for a try again, but the ref said it was held up.

It was nail-biting stuff for the EURFC supporters, and Durham would have one final roll of the dice before full-time. Durham had a scrum, and as the ball came out, they used good hands to break up the field. Exeter’s cover defence performed excellently to make the initial tackle on the 22’ metre line but they threw it wide and seemed to have the overlap, but the final pass just didn’t stick, and it went into touch.

Exeter had the lineout and kicked the ball out on the full to secure a crucial victory.

FULL-TIME SCORE: EXETER UNIVERSITY 8-7 DURHAM UNIVERSITY

Whilst it wasn’t the best display of rugby EURFC have put in this season, it was undoubtedly an important one. With the win, Exeter secure 2nd place in BUCS Super Rugby, but next week they travel to Bath as they chase 1st place in the league on the final day of fixtures before the knockout rounds.