It wasn’t a day to remember for Exeter as they suffered a 4th loss in five games against a strong Loughborough side.

The scoring started just 5 minutes in as hooker Joe Plunkett was driven over by his pack at the maul.

The lead was quickly doubled through Sam Byran. The scrum half running a good support line off Jack Bracken who had broken down the left wing. A lightning start for the hosts.

Exeter eventually settled into the game and had a try of their own inside the first 20 minutes. Continuing his impressive try scoring run, Tom Gulley powered over from short range for his 11th of the campaign.

Despite this, Loughborough resumed their control over the match. Theo Mayell ran a great line off Chris Preen, splitting the defence and running it in under sticks.

It was 2 in 2 minutes for the hosts as Bracken soon had a try of his own. A break from Cusick in midfield gave them the field position, and just as Bracken had done to him earlier, Bryan gave the final pass to his winger to score.

Their first half fun wasn’t done there. Bracken and Bryan once again linking up down the left wing. This time the winger delivered the pass from the floor to his scrum half, who just had the pace to finish.

Even with all the action, the first half still had a few seconds left. Needing a try to stay within touching distance Exeter went all out attack. Nick Lilley ran a great inside line off Coen, to get within a matter of inches. However, Mayell made no attempt to roll away, stopping an almost certain try. The referee awarded the penalty try and 7 points to Exe.

HALF TIME SCORE: LOUGHBOROUGH 31 – 14 EXETER

Fired up by that last try and the half time team talk, the boys in green came out firing. Strong carries from Gulley and Dorrell in the 22, narrowed the defence leaving space out wide. A lofted ball from Coen found Seb Driscoll, who after a shake and step dived over the line.

Ben Coen added the conversion, and just a few minutes later slotted a penalty from in front to quickly reduce the gap down to just a try.

Needing some individual brilliance to re-find control on the match Loughborough turned to last year’s final’s man of the match, Dan Eckersley. The flanker breaking tackles out of nowhere and executing the 2-on-1 to perfection. On his inside was Sam Bryan who ran in untouched for his hat trick.

A penalty try for the hosts soon followed as Ben Coen was sent to the bin for a shoulder charge on Loughborough winger Fin Doyle.

The game was all be sealed by Loughborough just a few minutes later as Bryan had a 4th. Another break by Bracken, and his friend was on his inside to bring up the 50-point mark.

With still 10 minutes left there was time for the hosts and Jack Bracken to score again. This time a break from Gourlay opened up the space, with Bracken running that all too familiar inside line.

Although there was no doubt about the result, Exeter could still get themselves a try bonus. Working herd, picking and going around the corner, just a few centimetres out, they finally got it. Tom Gulley yet again the try scorer.

FULL TIME SCORE: LOUGHBOROUGH 59 – 31 EXETER