What happened?
Gloucester Rugby couldn’t do enough to match Exeter Chiefs despite putting in a performance full of character at Sandy Park on Boxing Day.
It was a narrow game and for much of the first half, Gloucester Rugby looked like the better side. However, Exeter Chiefs showed their experience and stayed in the game and were able to push on in the second half and establish a lead that was too big for Gloucester Rugby to come back from.
Gloucester Rugby were first to get on the scoreboard through a Lloyd Evans penalty and were the more attacking side early on, with the TMO ruling out a try as it was deemed Ruan Ackermann was held up.
Ian Whitten was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on and this seemed to fire Exeter up who were then able to get over the try line. The Gloucester Rugby defence was strong and Mark Atkinson literally put his body on the line to try and stop the score but Jonny Gray found a way through and Exeter went into half time 7-6 up.
In the second half, Exeter came out and scored three tries to take the bonus point victory. Sam Simmonds got over twice with a further score from Ollie Devoto.
Gloucester Rugby stayed very much in the game and scored twice through Toby Venner who came on in what was a spectacular performance off the bench. Lloyd Evans had an opportunity to claim the losing bonus point with the clock deep in the red but unfortunately the Devon wind sent it wide.
Key moment – Toby Venner
On his Premiership debut, Toby Venner came on and scored two incredible tries for Gloucester Rugby. The speedy scrum half had an immediate impact and was hopping and skipping with pace every time he got the ball.
What’s next?
Gloucester Rugby are back in action next weekend when they host Sale Sharks at Kingsholm in Round Five of the Gallagher Premiership on Saturday.
There was a penalty advantage so we will go back and Evans will have a final chance to secure the losing bonus point.
Exeter won the ball at the lineout but have knocked the ball on. Gloucester Rugby scrum.
Crossing. Evans fires the ball into touch.
Evans adds the conversion.
He's done it again! Toby Venner gets over for Gloucester Rugby!
Barton is on for Moyle.
Joe Simmonds converts.
Sam Simmonds gets over for his second try of the game.
Exeter might have scored here...
Unlucky for Craig there. He is deemed to have changed his bind.
Gloucester Rugby are playing well but it's just the final execution that is missing from the game.
Reid thought that he had the penalty but the referee disagrees. Exeter have the scrum in the middle of the field.
Ford Robinson is on for Val Rapava-Ruskin.
Craig is on for Alemanno.
Walker is on for Singleton.
Evans slots the conversion.
TOBY VENNER! Yes Gloucester Rugby! What an impact from the young scrum half.
It's Gloucester Rugby in the Exeter 22.
Ollie Thorley inches away from the try line! He's forced into touch and Exeter have the lineout 5m from their own line.
Yes Glaws! A great tackle by Nagle-Taylor leads to a penalty at the breakdown. Evans puts the ball to touch and the Cherry and Whites will have the lineout on halfway.
Ackermann is off. On comes Nagle-Taylor.
Rees-Zammit is off for Ollie Thorley.
Chapman is replaced by Toby Venner.
Simmonds converts his brother's try.
Sam Simmonds gets over for Exeter's third try.
Exeter with a lot of momentum. Simmonds puts the ball in the corner and the hosts will have a 5m lineout.
Jonny May with a clever (lucky!) kick pass there but the ball has gone forward. Exeter get the scrum deep in the Gloucester Rugby half.
Balmain is off. On comes Knight.
Simmonds adds the extras.
Ollie Devoto breaks through the Gloucester Rugby defence and gets over to score.
5m from the Cherry and White line.
Joe Simmonds went blind and nearly got over the line. However, the ball has gone forward. Great pressure from Gloucester Rugby.
They tried to attack with the advantage but got nowhere. We go back for the penalty and Exeter will have the lineout 10m out.
It's the hosts who have the put in at the scrum.
He's passed his HIA.
Simmonds gets us underway.
What a first half. There's one point in it! We'll be back with all the action from the second half.
Evans slots the kick!
Yes Jonny May! What a charge down. Evans takes the ball back and will line up a shot at goal.
Hogg is off. On comes Hendrickson.
Incredibly scrappy play from both sides. Exeter Chiefs will have the scrum 10m out.
A scrum to Exeter inside the host's 22.
Joe Simmonds slots the conversion.
It was inevitable. Jonny Gray muscled his way over the line to score. But what incredible defence to keep them from scoring for so long. A great effort.
Jordy Reid is off. Seb Nagle-Taylor comes on. Body on the line stuff.
They've turned up the heat but Gloucester Rugby's defence holds them up. A great team effort but Atkinson's contribution has to be highlighted there.
They go for the corner...
A good period for Exeter there. It ends with May putting a kick into touch. Exeter have the lineout and are inching their way forward in the Gloucester Rugby half.
Yellow card for Ian Whitten. A deliberate knock on. Gloucester Rugby have the lineout on the Exeter 22.
A slight knock on from Rees-Zammit there. Exeter will have the scrum just outside of their 22m line.
What a period of play that was! It just never ended, a real test of fitness! Both teams taking blows out of each other but play will resume with an Exeter lineout on their 22m line.
It's going back and forth. Each team taking it in turns to attack with the ball.
Gloucester Rugby are playing with incredible confidence in attack. Evans puts a cross field kick in and Jack Singleton collects it and makes a charge for the line. He's stopped inches short but Gloucester Rugby have a chance to go again.
What a tackle. The defence was so strong. Val Rapava-Ruskin puts in a thumping tackle and Gloucester Rugby are awarded a penalty.
Solid defence from Gloucester Rugby. Lloyd Evans diffuses a situation and clears the ball down the pitch.
He's slotted it! Evans gets Gloucester Rugby on the scoreboard.
A tackle in the air on Jonny May there. Evans lines up another kick at goal.
Ohh just missed.
Gloucester Rugby win the ball and attack well. Exeter are penalised at the penalty and Evans lines up the kick at goal.
Exeter win the penalty at the scrum. They clear their lines and will have the lineout just shy of the halfway line.
No try but what a start! Gloucester Rugby will have a 5m scrum.
Wow. What a start. A solid maul at the lineout and a good drive. The TMO is checking this one. Did Ackermann score?
Not rolling away there. Evans will kick the ball into the corner and the Cherry and Whites have the lineout 6m out.
Singleton puts the ball in and it's taken cleanly by Ludlow. Gloucester Rugby get the maul going forward.
The Cherry and Whites make a run but Reid knocks the ball on in a thumping collision. Exeter claim the ball and clear to touch.
A clever kick from Evans there. Grubber along the floor and Exeter knock it on. Gloucester Rugby scrum.
Gloucester Rugby playing from right to left.
Only a few minutes until kick off. The rain is holding off for the moment. Come on Glaws!
Jordy Reid spoke to the media in the week to preview this game. Here's what he had to say, including a festive message to the Cherry and White fans.
Ollie Thorley comes into the 23 for Tom Seabrook on the bench.
Welcome to Sandy Park! We hope you had a good Christmas and that you're ready to enjoy another festive treat with some rugby to watch on Boxing Day.
Having driven down the M5, we are ready to take on Exeter Chiefs in Round Four of the Gallagher Premiership.
Come on GLAWS!