This week, Exeter faced the newly promoted side of Dudley Kingswinford on home soil, at Topsham. The game got off to a flying start, as the hands of Zack Wimbush grabbed the ball off a lineout and drove it over the try line. Jack Park secured the conversion, and Exeter had bagged 7 points only 5 minutes into the clash. Off the restart, the visitors were keen to retaliate as they dominated into Exeter’s ’22, however it was the mighty boys in green who put the next round of points on the board. Tirion Bowen broke from the line and sprinted down the right wing towards the white wash. A missed conversion for Exeter meant the score stood at 12-0, and it was time for the visitors to respond to the boys in green.

It was penalties all round at Topsham, due to discipline errors from both sides, which led to a slow transition in pace throughout the game. Exeter were awarded with a penalty, which they took as a lineout 5m from the try line. The home side were going through their phases with power and determination, before Conor Triggs grabbed the ball and drove it over the line. With the score at 17-0, Dudley Kingswinford needed to secure a try. And that they did- lack of discipline from Exeter gave the visitors a chance to tap and go, and after a quick few passes, the visitors had finally put a score on the board. With the conversion successful, the score stood at 17-7 and for the first time this match, it seemed like the newly promoted side were keen to prove themselves.

As play resumed, the visitors certainly had more spring in their step, and were attacking with stride in Exeter’s ’22 and with a quick offload to flanker Smith Jas, Dudley Kingswinford had bagged another try, and with the successful conversion, the score gap tightened to 17-14 with less than 10 minutes to go of the first half. As the clock kept ticking on, Exeter had the possession and were attacking in the midfield, until an unfortunate error from the home side led to a penalty kick for the visitors right in front of the posts. With the kick successful, and the half time whistle blown, the score stood at an even 17-17.

HALF TIME SCORE: EXETER UNIVERSITY 17-17 DUDLEY KINGSWINFORD.

With the score stood even, it was evident that both teams were going to come back with points to prove after the short half-time break. This time, it was Exeter that got off on the strong foot, after a break from the line and a powerful carry, it was Toby Ferguson who secured the first try of the second half. With Jack Park obtaining the two all-important extra points, it was go time for Exeter to bag the 5 points for the table. Tries followed swiftly for Exeter from Zack Wimbush and Tirion Bowen, and Dudley Kingswinford responded with 5 points on the board, taking the score to 38-29. Fly-half Jack Park had an impressive game of kicking at Topsham. After a round of substitutions and 10 minutes left of the match, tensions were high. After some strong work at the breakdown for the visitors, they were rewarded with a try after a break from the line. A missed conversion made Exeter breathe a sigh of relief as the score updated to 38-34. Off the restart, Exeter were clearly dominating in the oppositions ’22, hungry for another try and it paid off- as Joe Bailey leapt over the line. The final try of the game was also in the hands of the home side, as after an interception from Zack Wimbush, an offload to Hugo Ellerby and it was time for Toby Ferguson’s second try of the intense clash with Dudley Kingswinford. Jack Park converted the last two tries for the boys taking the final score to 52-34.

FULL TIME SCORE: EXETER UNIVERSITY 52-34 DUDLEY KINGSWINFORD

A cracking game of rugby at Topsham on Saturday and an impressive performance from Dudley Kinsgwinsford, unfortunately wasn’t enough as the boys in green came out triumphant. Next week, the boys look ahead to the journey away to face Old Redcliffians in Round 5 of the National 2 West league.