The final game of the league kicked off last night which saw Exeter make the short journey to Bath, to face the fellow University side. It was all to play for, for Exeter as this game determined the winners of the BUCS Super Rugby League for 2023. The wet and windy conditions made this game trickier for both sides. The first whistle blew, and the tense clash swiftly begun. Scrum half Niall Armstrong made a strong start for the Exeter side as he made some box kicks down the field, Exeter tried to get the front foot on the ball, but Bath soon got the possession and made space in the visiting side’s ’22. Only 5 minutes into the game, Bath were successful, and Alfie Garside was rewarded with a try on the wing. After the restart, Bath were eager for more and were making ground in Exeter’s ’22, however pressure from Josh Barton forced a turnover and the ball was back in Exeter’s hands. The boys in green used this opportunity, and dynamic passes from Archie Hill and Max Bliss, saw Kofi Barton-Byfield speed down the wing for Exeter’s first try. With the score at 5-5, the game was predicted to be a tight one, and Exeter knew what they had to do to keep putting points on the all-important scoreboard. Josh Barton secured the 2 extra points, and the game was quickly back to the restart. Barton just kept impressing, as Bath broke from the line and headed down the wing for a try, Barton tackled him into touch. With the pressure still on, Bath were penalised with a yellow card, and Exeter knew they had to take advantage of an extra player on the field.

And that they did- Niall Armstrong dived over the line for the try after hard work from the forwards, Barton secured the conversion and the score stood at 5-14, 20 minutes into the half. With the weather conditions deteriorating, it was evident that the ball became more difficult to handle, which created discipline errors for both sides. However, the exterior conditions didn’t slow down the pace of this clash, and a penalty conceded by the opposition in their own ’22 created an opportunity for Barton to take a shot at the post. Barton’s successful strike extended the score gap leading into half time.

HALF TIME SCORE: BATH UNIVERSITY 5-17 EXETER UNIVERSITY

After the short half-time break, the boys came out refreshed and raring to win. However, a penalty conceded by the boys in green in their ’22, added three points on the board for Bath, in the early minutes of the second half. The pressure was rising, forcing knock ons from both sides, Exeter knew that they had to keep pushing on, despite the grim conditions. The boys in green were soon in Bath’s ’22 forcing pressure on the home side, and it was Milo Hallam who secured the try with support from the pack. Barton’s cracking kicks just kept coming making the score 8-24 to the visitors. With 15 minutes left to go of the game, and the Loughborough Cardiff Met game occurring a few minutes behind on the clock, Exeter had to keep pushing on. As substitutions were being made on the pitch, the boys were eager to put more points on the scoreboard with the league title on their minds. With 2 minutes left of the last league game of the year, it was all to play for, and after a charged down kick which fell into the safe hands of Archie Hill, the centre ran down the line for a final try under the post. Barton added those two important extras, and the full time was blown with the final score at 8-31 to the Exeter side.

A hard fought and impressive performance from the boys in green who did all they could to secure the league title, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough this year. Exeter are now looking ahead to the BUCS Super Rugby Cup.

FULL TIME SCORE: BATH UNIVERSITY 8-31 EXETER UNIVERSITY