EURFC began the season looking for an unprecedented third straight BUCS Super Rugby league title following on from successes in 2017/18 and 2018/19. Whilst the 1st XV side ultimately came up just short, finishing in 2nd place with an impressive 14 wins from 18 games, it was still an incredibly encouraging season for Keith Fleming’s men.

Opening day saw a sun-kissed Topsham host a West-Country derby as Bath University made the trip to Exeter. Last season, this fixture saw Exeter succumb to a 34-21 defeat, which delayed their title celebrations until the final round against Cardiff. There was no such issue this time however, as Exeter raced out of the starting blocks, securing a 44-26 bonus point victory, including a hattrick from scrum-half Will Yarnell. Exeter actually trailed 12-10 at the interval, however they were able to pull away in the second half, eventually securing the 5 points.

Round 2 saw another home fixture, this time against Cardiff Met, where Exeter again displayed their title credentials in a 62-24 mauling of their opponents, Charlie Davies helping himself to a hattrick off the bench in a 10-try rout. Despite the optimism in camp, there was still plenty to build on with the amount of points being conceded still a concern to the coaching staff, in spite of the free-flowing attacking rugby on display.

Round 3 saw the side venture north for their first away fixture of the season against Northumbria at Kingston Park. This was another impressive performance as the side continued its 100% record in a 57-19 victory. This was the third successive match in which an Exeter player scored a hattrick, Luke Mehson the man on the spot on this occasion. Despite his try-scoring exploits, the match will be remembered for the bulldozing carries of prop Fin Richardson, who had a dream afternoon with several monstrous breaks and a well-deserved try. This match would also see fly-half Harry Bazalgette miss his first kick of a season in which he would only miss 8 in total.

Exeter were brought crashing back down to earth the following week as they suffered their first defeat of the season away at Hartpury. Trailing 18-10 at half-time and 26-10 early in the second half, Exeter rallied with tries from Tom Addison and Richard Capstick to reduce the deficit to 2 points entering into the final 10 minutes. Hartpury though, were to have the final word, a bonus-point try securing them a 31-24 victory and inflicting a first defeat of the season on Exeter.

The following week gave Exeter an opportunity to make amends, with the North vs South clash against Leeds Beckett at Sandy Park. Beckett last year had halted Exeter’s march to the BUCS Super Rugby Championship final at Twickenham with a 21-15 victory at Topsham and with a number of the Exeter side that day involved at Sandy Park, they were determined to make amends. In front of a large crowd, the match was an instant classic. As became a theme in the first half of the season, Exeter trailed at half-time, as Becket secured an 11-3 advantage. Richard Capstick’s score early in the second half closed the gap to 11-10, before a Will Lewin try allowed Beckett to open up a 21-13 lead which they held on to going into the final 10 minutes. After a Harry Bazalgette penalty cut the gap to just 5 points, Exeter produced a miracle in the final play of the match. Joe Elderkin secured a high ball, before livewire winger Arthur Relton broke free off the base of a ruck, streaking clear from 60 metres to score in the corner and level the match. Under immense pressure, Bazalgette showed why he has been one of the finest 10’s in the league this season, slotting the conversion from out wide to secure a 23-21 victory and spark scenes of pure jubilation all around Sandy Park.

Exeter then headed back on the road, facing university rivals Loughborough in Richmond as part of the hosts centenary celebrations. In front of a crowd packed with alumni from both universities, Exeter triumphed 31-16 to dampen Loughborough’s celebrations. This was a clinical away performance from the side, aided by the return of Sam Maunder who added impetus and a clinical edge off the bench in his first university game of the season.

The away days continued with a trip to league leaders Durham where Exeter suffered their second defeat of the season 38-27. After Durham had led 14-7 at half time, Exeter had rallied to open up a 24-21 advantage as the game entered its final quarter. Disappointingly, they seemed to run out of steam, as a Nathan Wyman inspired Durham steamed back to secure a bonus point victory. Durham’s victory was based upon the strength of their forward pack and the pinpoint kicking of Wyman, who assisted 4 of their tries from kicks out of hand. For Exeter, it was an evening of frustration, especially as they had led the game on 60 minutes.

The side returned to winning ways the following week in palindromic fashion, securing the league double over Northumbria in a 71-17 drubbing. Leading 36-17 with 15 minutes left, Exeter cut loose, adding another 5 tries, including a length of the field score from winger Luke Mehson. It was a crucial victory for Exeter, with a much-needed boost to the side’s points difference.

November ended in monsoon-like conditions away at Bath, where Exeter nilled their West-Country rivals in what Head of Rugby Keith Fleming described as ‘as good a wet weather performance as he could remember seeing from any side.’ Exeter controlled possession and territory throughout, with Harry Bazalgette slotting 6 out of 7 penalties to secure an 18-0 win. The game highlighted the strength of character from the side as, early in the second half, Bath continued to stalk the Exeter tryline for a 10-minute spell. With centre Kieran Kelly in the bin, Exeter’s defence held firm, eventually securing a turnover, allowing Bazalgette to boot clear and relieve the pressure in what would turn out to be a vital phase of the game.

December opened with a disappointing result away at Leeds Beckett, as a youthful side struggled to cope with the loss of key personnel to injuries and illness, Beckett wrapping up a 50-15 victory. Despite Exeter only trailing by 7 points at the break, Beckett’s experience told as they romped clear in the second half. Although undoubtedly being a disappointing result, this was still a positive afternoon for a number of young players who made their BSR debuts, reinforcing to them the quality of opposition they will come up against as the continue their rugby development at Exeter and look to break through into the 1st team.

The result against Leeds Beckett placed added importance on Exeter’s final two fixtures of the calendar year, at home against Hartpury and Durham. A loss in either of these fixtures would’ve arguably ended Exeter’s title hopes before the second term had even begun.

First up was Hartpury. The first half saw Exeter play arguably their most complete rugby of the season as everything seemed to click into place. The side raced out of the blocks, opening up a 24-0 lead inside the first half an hour, much to the surprise of a shell-shocked Hartpury, with tries from Richard Capstick, Francesco Scardamaglia and Will Cutbill. The game was then flipped on its head in a crazy eight-minute spell either side of half-time as Exeter took their foot off the gas, allowing the visitors to score 22 unanswered points, much to the anger and bemusement of the coaching staff. Exeter regrouped though, with further scores from Matthew Johnson and Albert Slade securing a 39-28 win to keep pace with Durham and Leeds Becket at the top of the table.

The final game before the Christmas break saw Exeter take on table toppers Durham in gale-like conditions at the Rubber Crumb. It was yet another fine wet weather performance from Exeter, with tries from Luke Bury and Lasha Jaiani, alongside 22 points from the boot of Harry Bazalgette securing a 32-8 victory. It meant that Exeter went into the break in third place, with themselves, league leaders Durham and Leeds Beckett separated by just 4 points in what was shaping up to be a titanic tussle at the top of the table.