Seven tries for Exeter sink Edinburgh’s hopes.
Exeter University made the long trip up North to play Edinburgh University LRFC in the British Universities and Colleges Sports Rugby Cup Semi-final, with the EU side looking to make it two trips in a row to the final at the home of English Rugby, Twickenham.
However, it was not to be and Exeter made the most of Edinburgh’s penalty count to take a comprehensive win back to Devon.
With a strong wind whistling over the Peffermill pitch, Edinburgh were in trouble from the start as an early penalty gave the visitors the chance to make ground. The first penalty then generated a series of penalties for a variety of maul infringements, culminating in the first try in the eighth minute as, yet another rolling maul put the Exeter hooker – team lists were, unfortunately, not available – over the line. In a difficult day for kickers the Exeter full back missed the conversion. In fact, none of the conversions for either side were successful.
The second try was, virtually a repeat of the first, with the Exeter pack driving Edinburgh backwards via a combination of power and penalties, a combination that was to prove decisive all game, this time their No. 6 providing the touchdown.
Exeter’s third try around 20 minutes, was, essentially, a variation on a theme, but this time No. 15 finished off the move as she broke for the line and went over on the left.
So, with 20 minutes played and 15-0, Edinburgh had left themselves with a fair hill to climb if the were to progress to the final.
This task they set about from the off. It was Exeter’s turn to start leaking penalties, but the home side were wise to the strong Exeter pack, so took their awards as tap-and-goes, making fine progress into the visitors’ 22. They lost possession, but the 15’s clearing kick was charged down by Edinburgh’s No. 8 who almost followed up the rebound, but the full back got a foot on the ball and kicked it over the dead ball line, giving Edinburgh a five-metre scrum.
Edinburgh then scored their first try. As the scrum broke up, Exeter were penalised at the breakdown and a quick tap penalty from Edinburgh’s No.9 caught the defence on the hop and she was able to dive over for the score and 15-5.
The game then opened up for a period with both sides enjoying a bit of open, passing rugby, but Edinburgh’s penalty ‘give away’ reared it’s ugly head once again and Exeter scored their fourth try via their No. 9 who picked up from the back of a five-metre scrum and found a gap to the line and 20-5.
The visitors scored their fifth try just before the break, once again their strong pack proving decisive and their No. 3 coming up with the try. Half time, 25-5 to Exeter.
Within five minutes of the restart, Edinburgh had pulled a try back. Both sides had a share of the ball, but it was mostly in Exeter’s half and, once Edinburgh had found their way forward a series of rucks down the left, put their scrum half within a few metres of the line and she duly obliged with her, and Edinburgh’s, second try of the match fro 25-10.
However, within a few minutes, the visitors had eschewed the use of their pack drills, setting the back division free to break through and set the stage for their sixth try, their No.19 providing the points and 30-10.
Another ‘pack try’ was scored by Exeter a few minutes later to top out at 35 points.
Edinburgh had a late rally and ‘crossed’, but the try was disallowed by the referee, but they eventually made their late push count with their third try, this time from their No. 10.
So it was a disappointing day for the home side who, it has to be said, were missing a couple of their Internationals, but whether they could have done anything to prevent the Exeter pack from pushing them all over the pitch is fairly doubtful. A fine win for the visitors sees them take their, well deserved, place at the finals at Twickenham in April.
Images from the match will appear here over the next few days.
