A youthful Gloucester side containing five starting debutants produced a dominant first-half display to make it two wins from two in this season’s Premiership Rugby Cup with a 45-19 win over Exeter Chiefs at Kingsholm.
What happened?
The Cherry and Whites put the first points on the board early on as full-back Lloyd Evans slotted over a penalty after a strong shove from the Gloucester pack at a scrum.
After surviving a spell of Exeter pressure close to their try-line, the hosts quickly went up-field and opened the try-scoring as centre Louis Hillman Cooper made an incisive break from deep before quick ball allowed back-row debutants Jack Bartlett and Harry Taylor to combine for Taylor to run in under the posts for a try converted by Evans.
That was quickly followed by another Gloucester try as a strong driving maul set up good field position, with some silky handling from the backs creating space for wing Jake Morris to dive in at the corner.
Exeter’s indiscipline continued to cost them and referee Jake Makepeace ran out of patience midway through the half sending centre Ian Whitten to the sin bin.
The hosts made their numerical advantage with two quick-fire tries from wing Alex Morgan, the first seeing him break through a gap in midfield to score before adding his second – and Gloucester’s fourth – scoring out wide after quick hands from the Gloucester backs.
Full-back Lloyd Evans continued his 100% record from the kicking tee adding the conversion to give the hosts a 31-0 after 33 minutes, before the visitors responded with Rus Tuima going over from close-range to make the score 31-7 at the break.
The hosts maintained their dominance early in second-half with George Barton scoring in the corner after wing Alex Morgan did well to free his hands and offload the ball with two defenders upon him.
Exeter hit back with some impressive handling eventually resulting in winger Arthur Relton stretching to dot the ball over the line for a well-worked try.
Gloucester were reduced to 14 men just before the hour mark with flanker Jack Clement yellow carded, and Exeter soon scored another try with substitute Sam Hidalgo-Clyne sniping over from close range for a try converted by fly-half Jack Walsh.
Gloucester had the final say however with Jack Reeves darting over late on to seal a crushing 45-19 win.
Key moment
After building up a commanding half-time lead, George Barton’s try early in the second-half destroyed any hopes Exeter had of a comeback victory.
What’s next?
The Cherry and Whites return to Premiership action next Friday as they visit Wasps Rugby at the Ricoh Arena, before hosting West Country rivals Bristol Bears at Kingsholm on Friday 3rd December.
We steal the ball back and end the game. A great game! Thanks for joining us.
Twelvetrees adds the extras.
Ford-Robinson is off for Adkins.
Jack Reeves gets over to score in the Cherry and White shirt!
Cam Jordan is on for Freddie Thomas.
He's so fast. He chips the ball but he can't get to the ball. We have the penalty though.
Jack Reeves is on for Lloyd Evans.
He's back from his yellow card.
Ford-Robinson is back on having passed his HIA.
We were in at the side.
Matty Jones is on for Ben Meehan.
Jack Walsh adds the extras.
Exeter's replacement scrum-half Sam Hidalgo-Clyne scores for the visitors.
Jack Stanley is on for Bryan O'Connor. A good debut for Bryan!!
We're holding on well at the moment. Come on boys.
Great defence!
Bartlett is off, on comes Nagle-Taylor for his first appearance of the season.
Yellow card for Clement. But we've stopped them scoring...
Ollie Adkins is on for Ford-Robinson.
Ollie Thorley is on for Morris.
Matt Moulds is on for Henry Walker.
Arthur Relton gets over for Exeter after refusing to get brought down.
But we are awarded the penalty! Evans puts the ball into the corner.
On halfway. They have possession.
Evans adds the extras.
George Barton gets over the try line!!! The fly-half collected the ball from Alex Morgan and went over to score in the corenr.
Another great shift at the scrum. We go to touch. 10m lineout.
Jack Walsh gets us underway for the second half!
We bundle their maul into touch to end the half. Come on!!
5m lineout.
They have the lineout in our half.
A great shift at the scrum! Exeter had the put in but we've come away with the penalty.
Hodge adds the extras.
Rus Tuima gets over the line for Exeter.
Evans strikes the ball well.
Another Al Morgan try!! Barton quick hands to Evans who passes to Morris who offloads to his fellow winger Al Morgan who scores
We get the penalty on halfway. Evans fires the ball deep into their 22.
Evans slots the conversion.
Al Morgan!!! What a beautiful carving run to go over for the try!
Ian Whitten is yellow carded for going into the breakdown off his feet. Exeter are down to 14.
We come back for the penalty at the lineout.
A good shift from the forwards. The backs have a bit of space to play...
Conversion is good.
Silky hands from our backs! Jake Morris collects after some great touches from Hillman-Cooper and Barton to dive over to score!
Evans fires the ball to touch.
He's made a great run to bundle Exeter's catcher into touch.
Lloyd slots the conversion.
Harry Taylor gets over for a try on his debut! Louis Hillman-Cooper made a great break, with Jack Bartlett then offloading to the flanker who went over to score. A good try!
Exeter holding on at the breakdown. We clear the ball to our 22.
They are sustaining a good period of attack.
We didn't roll at the breakdown. Exeter kick to touch and have the lineout on our 22.
Lloyd Evans gets us onto the scoreboard.
A great shove on at the scrum. We play with the advantage but Morris can't collect the kick. We come back for the penalty and Evans calls for the tee.
But the ball was passed over the halfway line so it doesn't count. A great kick by Ben Meehan though. Exeter can't get the ball out of the maul so we have the scrum on their 22m line.
Exeter are penalised at the breakdown. But we miss touch with our kick...
The Exeter fullback makes an electric break. But George Barton brings him down. We have possession in our half.
A good start for the Cherry and Whites. Exeter kick the ball but it goes out on the full. Gloucester Rugby lineout.
George Barton kicks us off! We are underway here at Kingsholm.
Good afternoon and welcome to Kingsholm Stadium for our Premiership Rugby Cup game against Exeter. Kick-off 1pm.