Gloucester come out on top to deny battling Chiefs

By NIGEL MALROND

Exeter Chiefs ……………….. 27pts

Tries: Menin 40+1, MacDonald 47, 51; Tuttosi 60

Conversions: Cantorna 40+1, 47

Penalty: Cantorna 72

Gloucester-Hartpury…….31pts

Tries: K Jones 3, Matthews 14, 66; Monaghan 32, Venner 75

Conversions: Sing 14, 32; George 66

Defending champions Gloucester-Hartpury thwarted a superb Exeter fightback to maintain their 100 per cent record in a thriller at Sandy Park.

The visitors led 19-0 after 32 minutes, but a second-half recovery inspired by two-try England winger Claudia MacDonald saw the Chiefs lead 27-26 before a Mia Venner try five minutes from time sealed victory for the Cherry and Whites in a repeat of last year's final.

Gloucester-Hartpury head coach Sean Lynn commented: “The players responding to the messages from the coaching staff is outstanding, and it shows the character of the squad to be put under that pressure and come back out on top.”

Heart of the action: Double try scorer Alex Matthews on the charge for Gloucester

Exeter had no answer to Gloucester's impressive driving maul early on, with catch-and-drive tries by hooker Kelsey Jones and No.8 Alex Matthews, one converted by Emma Sing, giving the visitors a 12-0 lead.

The Chiefs had a try by winger Katie Buchanan ruled out after she was superbly held up by Venner, before Gloucester-Hartpury stretched their advantage with a sizzlingmidfield break by Sing, taken on by Sarah Beckett and finished off by Sam Monaghan, with Sing converting.

However, the visitors paid for their rising penalty count in first-half injury-time, when a clever tap penalty move saw No.8 Rachel Johnson stopped just short, but prop DaLeaka Menin dotted down to give the Chiefs a foothold, with Gabby Cantorna converting to leave them 19-7 down at the break.

Seven minutes into the second half, Exeter were right back in the contest when a midfield burst by lock Linde Van Der Velden was carried on by Brooke Bradley for Mac-Donald to finish off, with Cantorna converting.

DaLeaka Menin gets the first try for Exeter

PICTURES: Getty Images

MacDonald struck again four minutes later with another clinical score after good work by fly-half Alex Tessier, but with Cantorna's conversion attempt falling short, it was level at 19-19.

With the visitors frequently falling foul of referee Hamish Grant, Exeter capitalised on another penalty kick to the corner, with hooker Emily Tuttosi driven over for their bonus-point try toGloucester, though, swiftly responded with a second try for Matthews, improved by Lleucu George, to edge them back in front.

Cantorna kicked a penalty to put Exeter 27-26 ahead, but with five minutes remaining, Venner scorched away down the left touchline to snatch victory.

Disappointed Chiefs' head coach Susie Appleby said: “You can't let a side like Gloucester get away from you in the first half. We didn't seem to decide to play until half an hour in, so it is disappointing, but we came back into the game well and showed what we are about.”