Exeter Chiefs 24-45 Gloucester: Welsh duo spearhead Cherry & Whites to a shock victory

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs ……………… 24pts

Tries: Iosefa-Scott 15, E Roots 38, Varney 62, Gulley 76

Conversions: Slade 16, 63

Gloucester ………………….. 45pts

Tries: Loader 5, 23; S Atkinson 19, Lake 40, 46; Joseph 60, Denny 80

Conversions: C Atkinson 20, 24, 40, 61; Barton 80

If this was Gloucester’s maiden voyage into the new Prem rugby season, then the good ship Cherry & Whites could hardly have sailed into calmer waters.

Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan made dream debuts as Gloucester launched their campaign with a statement victory over last season’s beaten finalists Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park.

For George Skivington and his new-look side, it was an opening salvo full of promise – powerful, composed and laced with the defensive character their head coach has demanded throughout pre-season.

The Cherry & Whites have endured more than their fair share of struggles in recent years, but a summer of significant investment has raised expectations around Kingsholm.

Running man: Will Joseph breaks free to score Gloucester’s sixth try.
PICTURES: Getty Images

Match action

And with the ever-loyal ‘Shedheads’ desperate to see their faith rewarded, Gloucester wasted no time in showing that this season’s journey could be a very different one.

Lake and Morgan, proven competitors on the Test stage, looked every inch the internationals on their Gloucester debuts.

Both were involved in the heavy attacking raid that sparked the opening try, Ben Loader latching onto a sumptuous chip from Ben Redshaw to dot down in the left corner.

Exeter’s response was swift as they launched a succession of powerful raids, eventually resulting in Josh Iosefa-Scott rumbling over.

It was a strong opening, two sides trading blows like prize fighters.

Gloucester’s attack, though, looked slicker and sharper and, with the Chiefs defence soft on occasions, the visitors struck twice more.

Seb Atkinson collected the first, the England centre alive to Caolan Englefield’s clever kick in behind to score by the posts, before Loader claimed his second after another well-placed kick.

The Chiefs, though, refused to go quietly.

Greg Fisilau sparked a breakout from No.8, splintering the Gloucester defence and allowing Ethan Roots to tear down the left touchline and finish the move.

Gloucester, however, continued to look the more assured side and Lake then delivered another blow before the interval.

A needless penalty inside their own 22 gave Gloucester one final chance and, opting for the corner, Lake peeled away from the rear of the resulting maul to sneak over for a converted bonus-point try.

Off to a flyer: Will Joseph goes over for Gloucester.

Second half

The Chiefs needed a response after the break but repeatedly let themselves down with basic errors and poor decisions.

Lake, on the other hand, plundered his second from another close-range maul before Will Joseph added another, shrugging off feeble tackles from both Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Ben Hammersley to put the visitors 26 points clear.

To their credit, the Chiefs refused to throw the towel in, their efforts rewarded when Stephen Varney raced in for a third try, before replacement hooker Louie Gulley claimed a Premiership debut score from a well-worked lineout move.

Yet Gloucester’s defensive resolve held firm and Junior Denny capitalised on another kick in behind in the final minute to put the seal on Gloucester’s maiden voyage – and their first league win at Sandy Park since January 2015.

Held: Exeter Chiefs wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is tackled by Will Joseph of Gloucester.

Control

“Pretty much all the signings we’ve gone after were senior guys who have been around the block and have leadership qualities,” said head coach George Skivington.

“They’re all very good rugby players, but the quality of blokes they are and the character they’ve shown is just as important.”

“It’s about control under pressure,” Skivington added.

“When you’re under the cosh a little bit, just not panicking and doing the right thing.

“They had us under a lot of pressure at stages today, particularly in that second half, and then we went down to 14 men and there’s a lot of defending to do.

“I thought the way the boys bounced up was excellent.

“It’s only round one, but I think there was a good snapshot of what we’ve gone after, and hopefully we can keep that going.”