Exeter narrow gap at top but Northumbria remain in pole

THE BEAST from the East claimed two fixtures this week but

Hartpury and Bath braved a blizzard at Gilman’s Ground and it was the visitors who were caught cold as Hartpury put on a blistering four try display to lead 24-0 at the break.

Sam Leeming led the charge with an early try, swiftly followed by Alex Forrester. Will Crane then burrowed over and when Maliq Holden secured the bonus point, Bath were staring at a rout.

They returned to the field galvanised though and tries from Will Partington, Jack Davies and Beck Cutting, with the former adding one conversion, brought them to within a score but Luke Stratford sealed victory 29-17.

Nottingham Trent’s visit to Durham and Northumbria’s title tilt at Leeds Beckett were frozen off, leaving

Exeter to heap pressure on the leaders by beating Loughborough 52-42.

Exeter have struggled to emphatically kill off teams and twice Loughborough fought back to nearly overcome the Devonians. At one point in the first 40, Exeter led by 19 points thanks to Jack Rouse, Jesse Lipetz-Robic, Mike Haines and a penalty try but Sam Grahamslaw, Callum Watson and Toby Hutchinson crossed to close the half 26-21.

Successive Paul Schroter, Kieran Kelly and Ted Landray tries – who also contributed five conversions – looked to have put an Exeter win beyond doubt but again Loughborough dug in.

A penalty try accompanied by a yellow card instigated further tries from Will Atfield and Jack Antoniou, and with Matthew Travers’ 100 per cent kicking, the result balanced on a knife edge 45-42. But the Exeter pack found one final score to clinch the vital win and now lead the table by three points.

The equation for Northumbria is simple. Three points versus Leeds Beckett and they are champions. Anything less, it’s Exeter’s.