Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester Rugby

It was a fierce battle at Kingsholm in the first round of PREM Cup action as Chiefs were defeated four tries to three by Gloucester Rugby.

The performance was a vast improvement on the Chiefs’ game last time out at the stadium, and Rob Baxter’s men were thick in the fight through to an hour played where Gloucester asserted dominance to secure the win.

A strong showing by the forwards at set piece has often set the platform for points for Chiefs. In the 14th minute, a maul drive from the five-metre was brought down just short after Christ Tshiunza peeled off the rear. With an advantage coming, Lewis Pearson took the pick-and-go for the season’s first try.

The Gloucester captain led the way in responding. Lewis Ludlow scored when he got on the end of a Will Joseph pass inside on the edge of the 22, catching Paul Brown-Bampoe in a two-on-one. With Ross Byrne’s conversion, the hosts took a two-point lead.

The forwards went to work again for Chiefs in the last minutes of the half. In a similar fashion to Pearson’s try, Rusi Tuima got his name on the scoresheet after a prolonged Chiefs attack.

In just a minute however, Gloucester retook the lead with a scorching break through the line in the 22 from fan-favourite Max Llewellyn.

The final say of the half went to Ethan Roots, however. He shocked the home crowd when he broke from the maul and mid-tackle, spun his body on the turf to reach out over his head to ground the ball. His five points edged Chiefs into the narrowest of leads.

There were testing times for the Chiefs’ defence just shy of an hour played. Gloucester spent a prolonged period camped in the 22 before repeated infringements brought about a warning for Chiefs before the Cherry and Whites were given an advantage.

Forced back from the line, the hosts chipped wide to Josiah Edwards-Giraud who just beat youngster Nick Lilley in a foot race for the ball as it bounced over the line.

It was a tough pill to swallow for Chiefs fans when former Exeter man Jack Innard scored Gloucester’s bonus-point try from a driving maul on 63 minutes with Byrne slotting the conversion.

There looked to be a last-minute fight from Chiefs to claim a bonus-point but when Gloucester added a penalty to their score and an Exeter maul was held up on the line, there was no more time to play.

Chiefs will be looking for a more complete performance against Bath Rugby next weekend, but there were noticeable improvements in their game after a tough pre-season.