The 2018/19 season saw a new start for Exeter, with prominent players such as Ted Landray, James McRae, Felix Maddison and captain Simon Linsell all graduating. It was business as usual however, as Exeter open their campaign in comprehensive fashion, securing a 43-19 victory over Leeds Beckett at Topsham. 7 tries, including a double from scrumhalf Pierre Thompson set Exeter on their way to an easy victory as they began their quest for a second consecutive BUCS Super Rugby league title.

Following this game, Exeter travelled to Loughborough, drawing their first game in Super Rugby history, both sides sharing the points in a 17-17 result. Exeter had led 17-10 following tries from Ralph Marchant and Rory McMeikan, with Sam Morley adding 7 points from the tee, before Loughborough scored as the clock turned red, the conversion sealing a share of the points.

The disappointment of letting a victory slip away continued into the following week as lightning struck twice, this time away at Durham. Exeter had taken a 21-19 advantage into the break and looked to be clinging on for victory, before a 77th minute converted try from the hosts secured them a 29-28 victory, leaving Exeter with just 1 win from the opening 3 rounds.

The shackles were lifted the following week at Sandy Park in the first ever North vs South clash, as Exeter secured a 45-24 victory over the previous season’s runners up Northumbria, Josh Pieterse, Sal M’Boge and Pierre Thompson all helping themselves to braces.

This positivity failed to last though, as Exeter were again giving a reality check in a painful 36-31 defeat to West-Country rivals Bath the following week, before the side got back to winning ways with a 35-27 win against Super Rugby new boys Cardiff in the Welsh capital. This game started off a 4 game winning streak for Exeter as they finally seemed to find some consistency, rattling off an impressive 31-22 victory away at Northumbria and a 33-10 victory at home to Nottingham Trent.

Next up for Exeter was a trip north to face a Leeds Beckett side that were still to awaken from their slumber in the season. Again featuring on the live coverage, Exeter’s first half was a perfect demonstration of composed rugby away from home as tries from Charlie Davies, Will Cutbill and Pierre Thompson helped open up a 21-3 lead. Despite Beckett responding in the second half, Exeter had learnt from their previous inability to see out results, securing a 21-10 victory.

December began with the visit of Hartpury to Topsham. It was testament to the hard work of the groundmen that the game was able to go ahead after atrocious weather in the build-up. In hindsight, Exeter may have wished the game had fallen foul to the conditions, as Hartpury picked up where they left off from the Sandy Park semi-final, by taking Exeter apart at home. In challenging conditions, Exeter were handed a blow after just 3 minutes as Sam Morley took a nasty knock to the head, ending his involvement. Exeter never really got going, Hartpury securing a 29-0 win to leave EURFC with plenty of questions as the league moved towards the Christmas break.

An immediate response was needed and it came the following week, Nottingham Trent dispatched 28-15, before the men in green and white rounded off 2018 with a 28-22 victory on the Rubber Crumb against Cardiff Met. Despite a topsy turvy set of performances pre-Christmas, Exeter headed for the Super Rugby break top of the table on 45 points, with Hartpury and Cardiff Met both snapping at their heels.

2019 began with two crucial away trips for Exeter, against Cardiff Met and Hartpury. First up, was a daunting trip to Cyncoed to take on Met. In contrast to previous away fixtures, it was Exeter securing a late comeback victory, rather than the opposition, as they fought their way back from 14-6 down at the break to secure a thrilling 27-26 win after Matt Johnson’s late converted try.

Things were to get even better a week later as Exeter enacted revenge on Hartpury in a 45-21 statement of intent at the Gilman’s Ground. Exeter lead 21-14 at halftime in a game that had been nip and tuck in a pulsating first 40, Olly White going over on the stroke of halftime to take the lead. The second half was to be a different story though, as Exeter upped the intensity to a level Hartpury failed to live with. A dominant performance saw Exeter pull clear thanks to tries from Bliss, Thompson, Hollis and Morley to seal a comprehensive 45-21 victory away from home.

Exeter continued their winning form in 2019 the following week with a 31-5 victory over Loughborough at Topsham. The match was far from plain sailing though as both sides had to cope with incredibly strong wind throughout. Joe Elderkin’s first half score gave Exeter a 7-0 lead at the break but second half scores from Blee, White, Marchant and Davies saw Exeter romp clear, putting the side within touching distance of the Super Rugby title.

Up next for the side was the annual Varsity fixture at Sandy Park, this time against Durham. A cagey and attritional first 20 saw Durham take 5-0 advantage. Exeter struggled to initially get into the game but rallied late in the first half with tries from Rory McMeikan and Joe Salkeld as Exeter’s forward pack hauled them back into the game and into the lead. This lead was extended further right on half-time as Joe Elderkin fed Sal M’Boge to dive in under the posts and open up a 21-5 lead at the break. Durham came out for the second half with a renewed intensity, two scores in 10 minutes closing the gap to just 2 points. On the 60-minute mark, Ralph Marchant’s score looked to have given Exeter breathing space, but Durham responded immediately from the kick-off, leaving the game tantalisingly poised at 28-26. Durham continued to apply the pressure and took the lead in the 77th minute with a clever try out wide. The drama didn’t stop there though, as Exeter launched one last assault on the Durham line in search of victory. It was heartbreak for the home side though, as George Gosling was held up over the line in the game’s final act, sealing victory for Durham.

Exeter’s blip continued a week later as they suffered a second successive home defeat, this time to Bath at Topsham. A poor first half from Exeter saw them trail 24-7, leaving a mountain to climb in the second half. Despite second half scores from Rory McMeikan and Matt Johnson, Exeter were comprehensively out muscled 34-21. The result left it all to play for in the final round, Exeter knowing that anything other than victory over Cardiff would allow Hartpury to capitalise and take the title at the death.

Preparations were disrupted for the fixture, as heavy rain the night before forced the game to be moved from Topsham to the Rubber Crumb. It had little effect on Exeter’s start though as, in front of the TV cameras, they raced out of the blocks for an early 7-0 lead. Cardiff came back into the game as the half went on, opening up a 12-7 lead, with fears re-emerging of Exeter’s losses in the previous two weeks. This was allayed somewhat by Paul Schroter’s try on 30 minutes, giving Exeter a 14-12 lead but it was still all to close for everyone’s liking. Choice words from Keith Fleming at the break appeared to do the trick as Exeter started the half at breakneck speed, M’Boge, Hollis and Rouse all scoring in the opening 10 minutes of the half to leave a shellshocked Cardiff trailing 35-15. The match then settled down before a score for each side in the final 10 minutes, Exeter sealing a 42-22 victory and with it, the Super Rugby title.

Fresh off the back of securing the league title, attention now turned to the cup. Exeter’s quarter-final opponents were to be Cardiff again, after they secured 8th place in the league. With Topsham the venue, scores from McMeikan, Hamilton and Thompson gave Exeter a 17-10 half-time lead, however the loss of Sam Morley to injury meant the half ended on a sour note. The loss of Morley seemed to shock Exeter, as Cardiff opened up a 24-17 lead after 50 minutes, before the hosts responded through Will Hollis to level the scores. Cardiff again edged ahead, before a converted Ben Phillips try levelled the scores entering the final 10 minutes. On 77 minutes, Cardiff’s defence gave away a penalty, allowing replacement flyhalf Harry Bazalgette to edge his side ahead as the clock ticked down. The drama didn’t end there though, as in the game’s final act, Exeter were penalised, Cardiff opting to go for goal and with it, extra-time. Stunned silence turned to cheers of relief for EURFC’s supporters as the kick drifted agonisingly wide, Exeter sealing a 34-31 victory and a place in the semi-finals.

Their opponents would be a Leeds Beckett side that had found a second wind after a disappointing start to the season, securing victory after victory to place 4th in the final table. It was a hotly contested game, with tempers flaring both on and off the field with the prize of Twickenham just 80 minutes away. A nervy first half saw both sides struggle with their set-piece, before a Leeds Beckett try right on halftime saw them open up a 14-0 advantage. Exeter responded with a try from Josh Pieterse, but a third Beckett try on 60 minutes opened up a 21-5 lead and left Exeter chasing the game. With the game slipping away, Exeter rallied, with scores from Ben Phillips and Harry Bazalgette in the final 5 minutes. However, several miscued conversion attempts from EURFC meant that the scores were in vain, Exeter going down 21-15, missing out for a second year in succession on a Twickenham final appearance.

Despite the heartache of a second successive semi-final defeat, it was still a season of great positives for Exeter as they secured back-to-back league titles. Sam Morley top-scored with 123 points, with halfback partner Pierre Thompson topping the try-scoring charts with 10. Morley and Thompson were both named in the BUCS Super Rugby Team of the Year, alongside centre Will Hollis. A number of departing players also signed professional contracts upon graduating, the aforementioned Morley and Thompson continuing their development at Exeter Chiefs, with Jack Rouse and Josh Pieterse signing for Ealing Trailfinders in the Championship.

Thank you for joining us on our trip down memory lane. Keep your eyes peeled for more EURFC content in the coming weeks and months.