It wasn’t to be for Exeter University as they fell to their first defeat of the season at Redruth

It started well for the boys in green as just 2 minutes in Elliot Young marked his return from injury with an early try. The forwards rumbling over at the maul from 5m out to take the lead.

Not wanting to be out done, the hosts scored an identical try just 5 minutes later. Matt Pritchard levelling the scoring before Dean Wills took the lead with a conversion.

To cap off a roller-coaster of a first 10 minutes, Exeter re-took the lead through a Sam Walker penalty.

Walker was involved in the next try as he linked up beautifully with Tom Burton. Pugh found the fly-half out the back before spying a mismatch on the wing. He put boot to ball and Burton rose highest to take the high ball and finish in the opposite corner.

The quick scoring continued as Redruth replied with 5 minutes again. This time it was Jamie Prisk who received a slick offload to finish underneath the posts and bring the hosts back into it.

Wanting to reinstate their dominate lead, Exeter began to pile on the pressure. Turning the screw near the line, the forwards drew a yellow card for the hosts at the maul. They backed themselves to go again and didn’t make a mistake. Elliot Young going over his second after breaking early.
Having an impactful first 20 minutes back from injury, Young was yellow carded minutes after scoring his brace. The hooker sent to the bin for a high tackle.

With the sides now level on numbers again, the Redruth packed showed their experience again. Some deft hands put Jack King through a gap, before stepping the final defender to score. Another conversion by Wills was the big difference between the two teams at the break

HALF TIME SCORE: REDRUTH 21 – 18 EXETER UNIVERSITY

An early mistake from Exeter, allowed their hosts to get the upper hand early in the second half. Good defense held Redruth at bay, but it wouldn’t last forever.

Pritchard couldn’t get over for his second, but the referee adjudged Sam Erskine to have collapsed the maul just before the line. The penalty try was awarded and the captain sent to the sin bin.

Despite being down to 14 this seemed to inspire the uni boys. Free-flowing attacking play got them into the 22, before the play became far more patient. The forwards picking and going from short, biding their time. Bryce Stockton eventually found the breakthrough and Exeter were right back in the match.

A former player soon came back to haunt the uni boys as Conor Triggs went over out wide. Some slick hands from the flanker down the sideline got him into some space to finish.

The missed conversion left the door open for Exeter to stay in the game, and needing a try Walker and Byrne stepped up. With penalty advantage behind them, Walker drilled through the grubber towards the corner. Byrne was first to react and using his speed beat the covering defence to the ball.

Just as the visitors worked their way back into the match, the Redruth pack flexed their muscles again. The maul carried Pritchard over for his second try and Exeter needed a miracle with 10 to go.

It didn’t come as with just minutes remaining a loose Keita Ando pass was pounced on by Bobby Wigginton. The winger raced in and took the game beyond doubt.

FULL TIME SCORE: REDRUTH 45 – 30 EXETER UNIVERSITY

After suffering a first defeat of the season, they will have to pick themselves up ahead of our first BUCS away game during the week against Hartpury, before welcoming Taunton Titans next Saturday at Topsham.