Match Report: Exeter University 24 - 15 Durham University

12 months on from a devastating defeat at Sandy Park, the boys were back and ready to prove a point in front of a sold-out crowd. With an incredible start to the season and some quality players throughout the squad, the supporters knew they were in for a treat from minute one.
Emotions were high right from kick-off as the boys ran out to a thunderous sound coming from the main stand, and over 4000 adoring Exeter fans. Mignot kicked short, and with Bell reclaiming the ball the game was underway.

Exeter was the dominant side in the opening 10 minutes, with some huge hits flying in and some strong carrying. But, due to indiscipline Durham was afforded the first real attacking chance. A maul was set up 5m out, but Exeter held strong forcing the visitors to use their pick-and-go game. They looked certain to score from close range, but captain Lucas Dorrell stepped up in the big moment, making the important turnover at the breakdown. Leading from the front as always!!

Despite Exeter’s physical dominance, a lack of accuracy and ill-discipline was costing them in the opening exchanges. Overthrown lineouts, costly knock-ons, and poor passing spared Durham.

The hosts were to be forced to pay for these inaccuracies as Durham drew first blood at Sandy Park. An off-the-ball tackle on the edge of the 22 allowed Cal Grieve the opportunity to take the lead. He slotted the easy kick to break the deadlock.

The story of the game continued the same despite the visitors going ahead. Exeter’s penalty and error count continued to rise, allowing Durham to carry on attacking. After a knock-on in midfield, the visitors immediately attacked. Using winger Charlie Coe’s pace they seemed to be in for the first try after a beautiful counterattack.

A pass inside from Coe found Marcus Rhodes who had support from fly-half Pat Bishop. The 10 was certain to score until Exeter bodies began to come into view. Joseland initially put off Rhodes, before an incredible chase back from Charlie McCaig stopped Bishop with the line at his mercy. Joseland confirmed the job by holding him up over the line, and Exeter survived. A lucky escape.

From the resulting goal-line dropout, Durham continued their intensity. Rhodes beat the first man, putting the Exeter defence on the back foot from the first phase. Capitalizing on this, Bishop shipped it wide to Paul Brown via a deflection. The winger beat the covering Wimbush and Vajner with his pace before stepping Joseland and finishing in the corner. A special individual try was a fitting way to mark such a special occasion.

Taking this to heart, Exeter seemed to sort out their discipline and marched downfield. Getting into the 22, they drew the penalty, and despite an easy 3 points on offer, Mignot backed the team and went for the corner. A clever lineout play later and the boys in green and Durham racing back toward their own line. Somehow the maul was stopped just short, but the ever-present, ever-reliable Jared Williams was close by. He smuggled the ball from Vajner before driving over himself. A try just before halftime was exactly what the boys needed heading into the second period.

HALF TIME SCORE: EXETER UNIVERSITY 5 - 10 DURHAM UNIVERSITY

After an under-par first half, Exeter came out of the changing rooms on fire. Mignot made a half break and after some strong carries from Forsythe the boys in green were in the 22. Despite it coming to nothing, this was just a sign of things to come.

Firstly though, Durham managed to draw a penalty at the maul, and another opportunity to extend their lead. After nailing his earlier attempts, most of the ground expected him to knock this one over too. A good connection and enough distance, but it wasn’t enough just fading to the left.

As the clock continued to tick down, Exeter needed to find something heading into the final 25 minutes. Continuing to pile on the pressure it would be inevitable that the dam would break sooner or later. Finally, it did. A beautiful piece of skill from Mignot, as he dummied and then offloaded to Ed Volley running on his shoulder. The 6’ 7’’ winger then used all his pace to beat the cover defence and slide over the line. For the first time, the boys in green were in the lead.

Once that try was scored, things really began to turn. Durham’s discipline started to slip, and with the dominance already shown Exeter showed no mercy in capitalizing. From a 5m lineout, Joe Vajner hit Joe Bailey. All the forwards joined, and Durham was powerless to stop it from first contact. The boys in green running over the line at the end. Vajner was the beneficiary of the forwards’ hard work. The roar from Jared Williams showed how much it meant to him and the team.

The visitors didn’t take long to respond. Some steady phase play in midfield opened space outside. The dangerman, Paul Brown, was found again. He used his pace to beat the main line before, showing his strength and power to bump off the covering defence and sliding over in the corner. The conversion was missed so Exeter stayed ahead, but the game was heading for a tight finish.

Durham continued to mount the pressure. Brown was looking for dangerous time and time again. His counter-attacking ability had Exeter pinned back in their own 22, with McCaig having to pull off yet another try-saving tackle. With just 10 minutes to go and a 2-point margin on the scoreboard, this game was far from over.

With time almost up, the boys in green still needed another try to put this game to bed and impress the fans who had come out to watch. They began to go back to basics, using their forwards’ dominance and drawing penalties. Soon they found themselves inside the 22 with a lineout.

Just as before Vajner found Bailey and set up the maul. Durham was ready this time though. No progress was being made but Murray and the forwards kept faith. Soon they began to inch towards the line. The backs then began to pile in, Murray, Ribbons, and Gentry all giving the boys the final bit of power to get them over the line. Joe Vajner had a second and Exeter would be coming home with all 5 points.
FULL-TIME SCORE: EXETER UNIVERSITY 24 – 15 DURHAM UNIVERSITY
With the memories of last year’s fixture at Sandy Park banished, and the winning run extended to 12 the Exeter boys are on a roll in BUCS Super Rugby. An incredible start to the season has seen a gap already emerge at the top of the tree.
We like to thank everybody who bought and ticket and came and supported the boys at Sandy Park on Wednesday. It was an incredible occasion, and we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.
Next week we travel to the site of our last defeat, looking to right another wrong as Cardiff are our opponents.