More success for EURFC in BUCS Super Rugby

Rob Worthington, Sport Editor, reviews EURFC's performance in the BUCS Super Rugby final

THE EURFC 1st XV enjoyed more BUCS success during the Easter break bringing the BUCS Super Rugby Cup back to Devon for the second consecutive year.

The Exeter outfit travelled to the home of Saracens, the StoneX Stadium, to face Loughborough in the final. Loughborough finished one point ahead of Exeter in the BUCS Super Rugby table with 70 points. A fierce encounter with the University’s old sporting foe awaited the boys in green and white.

The fixture delivered on its promise. A truly blockbuster battle finished Loughborough University 44-48 Exeter Univesity at the StoneX.

Exeter took an early lead in the match with Josh Barton proving effective from the tee despite struggles in this year’s Var- sity matches against Cardiff and Loughborough. His kicking gave Exeter a 19-7 lead with ten minutes left to play in the first half.

However, Loughborough responded to the early Exeter onslaught with force. The boys in green and white conceded two quick-fire penalties before the break and soon after succumbed to mounting pressure from the Loughborough forwards with impressive maul work resulting in a converted try just before half time. Loughborough led 24-19 at the break.

Exeter reacted well to the late first half setback. A Loughborough yellow card handed Exeter the opportunity to assert dominance over proceedings. The Exeter side, captained by Barton, scored two tries, taking the score to 31-24 halfway through the second half.

The Loughborough 1st XV again responded strongly with success from the tee taking the score to 31-27, but the ever-impressive Kofi Barton-Byfield ensured Exeter once again extended their lead. 27-36 with ten minutes left to play.

Then, the game erupted. The LURFC 1st XV weren’t going to leave without putting up a fight. More effective mauling from the boys in purple took the score to 34-36. Exeter then scored again, taking the score to 34-41 with three minutes left on the clock. However, Loughborough’s indomitable spirit once again took the EURFC side by surprise.

A converted try meant scores were level come the final whistle, 41 points apiece on the scoreboard. Onto extra-time.

Loughborough took an early extra-time lead after opting to kick for the posts from an early extra-time penalty. Converted. The onus was on

Exeter to prove they too didn’t have the capacity to say die in the second half of extra time. And prove it they did. Exeter won a penalty early in extra-time and opted to kick for touch. From the resulting lineout the EURFC forwards finally enjoyed some success over Loughborough’s, with Tom Cairns forcing the ball over the try line. Barton converted. 48-44. With two minutes left to play, Exeter saw out victory and won out in a BUCS Super Rugby final for the ages. Off the back of the victory, a total of nine EURFC players were named in the England Student Squad to face France. However, each and every individual in the Exeter 1st XV deserves high praise for their work during the BUCS Super Rugby season. EURFC have once again established themselves as the pride of student sport this year.