A beautiful day in Topsham saw Exeter University take on the Guernsey Raiders in their first pre-season bout. Whilst both teams had an equal share of possession throughout, it was the young men from Devon who came out on top with a fine display of attacking rugby.

The University side were quick out of the blocks, catching the opposition by surprise with an early interception from hooker Scott Butterworth in just the second minute of the game. Continuous pressure ensured two more tries in quick succession as Niall Armstrong and Max Courtis raced over shortly after.

When the game looked like it was inevitably going one way, the Raiders struck back after successive penalties against the Exeter side. The rolling Maul was too much to handle, and lovely ball handling opened up space for Anthony Armstrong to touch down over the Exeter line.

Although the Exeter side answered back well through Hugo Hughes, it was the Raiders who gained the upper hand after the first quarter, showcasing the strength of their rolling mall once more and allowing Liam Welch an easy touch down after mounting pressure.

After a series of substitutes from the Exeter side, the team managed to run in three tries before half time, setting themselves up nicely with a 47-12 lead. Most notably it was the winger Kofi Barton Byfield who’s electric pace and agility down the right-hand side carved through the Raiders’ defence.

Into the last quarter, and four more substitutions saw Exeter put together some divine attacking rugby that was all too much for Guernsey.

Finishers Archie Hill and Ross Vintcent brought a more direct style of rugby to the game and broke the line twice to put the home side comfortably ahead. In the end it was the Raiders who had the final say, after a deft chip put a rushing defence on their heels and Ethan Smith ran in a well worked try to round off a fantastic day of rugby.

Exeter University

M. Bliss (E. Thomas 40); C. Turner (T. Roberts 34, C. Turner 47); H. Hughes (E. Volley 47), M. Courtis (A. Hill 47); K. Barton-Byfield; J. Barton (S. Walker 54), N. Armstrong (T. Cairns 33, N. Armstrong 75); C. Freeman (T. Gulley 57), S. Butterworth (E. Baldry 40), A. Owlett (A. Alexander 57); S. Higginson, M. Hallam (T. Bowen 40); L. Dorrell, R. Gordon (R. Vincent 34), W. de Boehmler (R. Gordon 57)

Tries: Butterworth, Armstrong, Courtis, Hughes, Barton, Bliss, Barton-Byfield, Turner, Vintcent, Hill
Conversions: Barton (7), Walker

Guernsey Raiders

C. Roberts, A. Armstrong, McCann, Davies, Smith, O. Thomas, Rutledge; Bellingham, Ceillam, Pinkley, Hillier, Culverhouse, Welch, Rice, Horrocks

Replacements: Bray, Morgan, Creed, Burger, Simmonds, Rice, de Jersey, M. Armstrong

Tries: A. Armstrong, Welch, Smith
Conversions: Thomas (2)

Referee: J. Milliner-Woodcock

Report by Max Courtis

Exeter University RFC

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