Gloucester make flying start at Sandy Park with 45-24 win

Exeter Chiefs 24-45 Gloucester Rugby, Sandy Park

Gloucester Rugby opened their Gallagher PREM season with an impressive 45-24 win over Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park.

The Cherry & Whites produced a sharp attacking display, built around clever kicking, strong maul work and clinical finishing. Gloucester led 26-12 at half-time and kept Exeter at arm’s length after the break, despite a late push from the hosts.

Loader Opens The Scoring

Gloucester struck first after patient pressure inside the Exeter 22. When the Chiefs illegally brought down the attacking maul, Charlie Atkinson kept the move alive before the ball reached Redshaw, who produced a precise kick-pass for Ben Loader to race in for the opening try. Atkinson’s conversion drifted wide.

Exeter responded after a spell of pressure in the Gloucester 22. Josh Iosefa-Scott eventually powered over from short range, and Henry Slade converted to put the Chiefs 7-5 ahead.

The visitors hit back quickly. Caolan Englefield spotted space behind the Exeter defence and kicked through for Seb Atkinson, who beat Olly Woodburn to the ball and scored under the posts. Charlie Atkinson converted to restore Gloucester’s lead.

Gloucester Build Half-Time Lead

Gloucester’s kicking game continued to trouble Exeter. Charlie Atkinson sent a cross-field kick towards Loader, who gathered the ball and spun out of the final tackle to score in the corner. Atkinson added a fine touchline conversion to make it 19-7.

Exeter reduced the gap before half-time when Kane James broke through midfield and carried play into the Gloucester 22. Harvey Skinner then found Ethan Roots out wide, and the flanker scored in the corner. Slade missed the conversion.

Gloucester still had the final say before the break. With the clock in the red, they kicked a penalty to the corner and set up a maul close to the line. Captain Dewi Lake spotted the chance to break away and scored in the corner. Atkinson converted to give Gloucester a 26-12 half-time lead.

Gloucester Pull Clear After Break

The Cherry & Whites started the second half strongly. After Exeter were caught offside, Gloucester kicked to the corner and again used the maul. Lake finished in the corner for his second try of the match, although the conversion was missed.

Exeter then enjoyed a period of pressure, but Gloucester defended well and struck next through Will Joseph. Atkinson converted to stretch the lead to 38-12.

The Chiefs responded through Stephen Varney after Greg Fisilau broke through midfield and released the scrum-half on the inside. Slade converted to make it 38-19.

Denny Seals Gloucester Win

Exeter pushed hard in the final stages and applied pressure near the Gloucester line. Freddie Thomas was shown a yellow card for a no-arms tackle, but the visitors initially held firm, with Seb Atkinson producing an important turnover.

The Chiefs eventually found another score when replacement hooker Louie Gulley crossed from close range in the corner. Slade’s conversion hit the uprights, leaving Exeter 14 points behind.

Gloucester ended the contest with the final try. Returning to their kick-pass approach, Seb Atkinson grubbered through for Junior Denny, who scored on his Gallagher PREM debut. George Barton added the conversion, and Gloucester closed out a strong opening-round victory.

Team line up:

Exeter: Hammersley; Feyi-Waboso, Salde, Butt, Woodburn; Skinner, Varney; Burger, Yeandle, Iosefa-Scott, Jenkins (capt), Wilson, E Roots, James, Fisilau.

Reserves: Gulley, Goodrick-Clarke, J Roots, Beckerleg, Bailey, Murray, Haydon-Wood, Wimbush.

Gloucester: Redshaw; Jospeh, Cokanasiga, S Atkinson, Loader; C Atkinson, Englefield; Rapava-Ruskin, Lake (capt), Fasagbon, Kleyn, Clark, F Thomas, Morgan, Trenholm.

Reserves: Innard, Bleuler, Knight, Clement, Ludlow, Robson, Denny, Barton.