Building nicely Skivington’s delight as Chiefs are defeated
ASECOND half revival from Gloucester secured a 34-18 victory over a spirited Exeter Chiefs side under the Friday night lights at Kingsholm.
Two tries from hooker Henry Walker and Charlie Chapman, as well as a lastminute penalty try, gave the Cherry and Whites a losing bonus point after two early Chiefs’ tries from Josh Hodge and Don Armand had given the visitors a 14-15 half time lead.
It was a fourth Premiership win for George Skivington’s men as they defended a late Chiefs onslaught to take away five points.
Skivington said: “We are building nicely. There are loads of positives.
“There has been a core group of lads working extremely hard over the last couple of months, and the boys are getting good at managing scenarios in games.
“We have been close to delivering that sort of result a couple of times, and we have fallen short.
“We have addressed that and talked about it, and I thought we finished the game off in style.
“We have got young Gloucester players on the field, they are getting exposed, they are getting experience. It’s great to see.”
Gloucester showed 12 changes from the team beaten by Harlequins last weekend, including returns for star wings Louis Rees-zammit and Jonny May, while captain Lewis Ludlow and number eight Ruan Ackermann were among those recalled up front.
Exeter’s line-up included full Premiership debuts for centre Dan John, prop James Kenny, lock Tom Price and number eight Rus Tuima, while captain Jack Yeandle featured after serving a three-match ban.
May was immediately involved in the action, breaching Exeter’s defence and diving over their line, but the try was disallowed for a foot in touch.
Gloucester, though, only had to wait another two minutes before they opened their account, driving a lineout deep inside Exeter’s 22 and Walker touching down, with Barton converting.
But Exeter were off and running almost from the restart as Hodge claimed a spectacular solo score, bursting through a gap 60 metres out and cruising past Gloucester full-back Santiago Carrreras. It was a stunning effort by the 20-year-old, and Exeter moved ahead after 13 minutes when Skinner kicked a close-range penalty.
Gloucester were rattled by Exeter’s response, and it got worse for them approaching the end of an entertaining opening quarter.
Centre Billy Twelvetrees was yellowcarded by referee Luke Pearce following a high tackle on Hodge, and with Gloucester still trying to regroup, Exeter pounced for a second try when their forwards shunted the home pack backwards and Armand scored.
Skinner’s conversion made it 15-7, but Gloucester hit back with a repeat of their opening try as Walker again rounded off a powerfully-driven maul.
Barton converted, and Gloucester then went close on two further occasions as Ludlow was tackled inches short of the line by Skinner following an interception, before May’s knee brushed the touchline when he dived for the corner.
It was a dominant spell by Gloucester, but they could not increase their points tally before half-time as Exeter took a one-point lead into the interval.
Gloucester dominated the third quarter, and Rees-zammit was twice heavily involved in attacking play as Exeter found themselves under sustained pressure.
The home side had to be patient, and they went back in front through a 53rdminute try by Chapman, with Barton’s conversion making it 21-15.
Gloucester continued to press, and a Barton penalty took them further ahead before Skinner cancelled that out eight minutes from time with his second successful penalty.
Exeter finished the game a man short after substitute prop Alfie Petch was sin-binned, and another Barton penalty wrapped things up for Gloucester ahead of a penalty try, with Exeter lock Price yellow-carded.