Sat 12 Sep 2026, 14:00
Exeter University v Hornets 12.9.26
On the second week of the new season it is Derby week and Hornets took the short trip to Topsham and the University side of Exeter.
At this early couple of weeks the University sides bolster their team with their BUCS players who play on the Wednesday and the players are in the shop window for professional contracts from the likes of Exeter Chiefs and others. Hornets knew this was going to be a tough test and that proved to be right except it was Hornets who were dishing out the majority of quality fast paced rugby and turned over the Students for the first time at the Topsham grass pitch and outplayed the Students winning by 8 tries to 6 in a pulsating high quality game of rugby by the visitors and returning to the Nest with 5 very valuable points on the road.
The game started as you would expect when Exeter hit Hornets hard and attacked with venom but alas for the Students they were more than matched in the defence by Hornets and after a barrage of 5 minutes the defence was on top and when Exeter were penalised for holding on in a tackle orchestrated by Danny Bailey it was Adam Francis who's quick thinking took a quick tap to Evan Russell who offloaded to the electric Josh Sheppard and from halfway in open space the winger was over converted by Jack Gapper and the home crowd sensed it wasn't going to as easy as they hoped. 0-7.
The game continued with Exeter throwing everything at Hornets and eventually they broke the line and also Danny Bailey was binned for 10 minutes 7-7.
Hornets again stepped up the fierce attacking and through a series of penalties to the visitors and a yellow to the defence after a series of attacks a deft kick by Gapper and Owen Griffiths was over in the corner and Gapper added the extras 7-14.
Hornets again were forcing mistakes by Exeter and through a couple of penalty kicks Hornets had a lineout on the opposition 22 and a clever lineout collected by Tommy Bailey and a well executed move and Griffiths sailed through the would-be defence untouched for his second and again Gapper was on target.7-21.
From the restart an unforced error where the ball was kicked straight into touch and a scrum to Hornets on halfway the ball shipped to Sheppard and his clever kick and Exeter carried the ball back over their line and the resulting scrum, powerful no.8 Sonny Davis scorched over to stun the crowd even more as the bonus point try was scored and inevitably Gapper was on target 7-28.
Exeter however never give up and they were rewarded with 2 tries before halftime and they all went in for a much needed break with the scoreline Exeter Uni 19-28.
Hornets were aware that Exeter would come straight back at them and needed to be alert and the visitors were causing chaos steeling the ball on 3 occasions in contact until eventually on a penalty advantage Gapper cross kicked perfectly to a flying Sheppard who grounded the ball for another devastating blow to the Students and again Gapper was on target and Hornets were looking very comfortable.19-35.
Exeter had a chance to put Hornets deep but a missed touch penalty which allowed the full back Charlie Carter the chance to open his legs and got Hornets deep inside foreign territory and after a few phases again he was able to carry till the defence were penalised and set up a 5m lineout to Hornets, Wardy was accurate to Davis and the resultant maul ended up with Ash Lockwood capping a superb game with a try and the lead extended again by the boot of Gapper and just under an hour played 19-42.
5 minutes later Exeter got their bonus point try and the benches on both sides were emptied and fresh legs which was a concern for Hornets as more fit young Students entered the field of play.24-42.
Exeter hit back again as they got a well worked series of rucks to go over. 29-42.
15 minutes to go and another mistake by Exeter had Hornets with a ruck on halfway a box kick by James Murray landed perfectly into Gapper's hands and the flyhalf got a well deserved score and his faultless display was finished when he converted his try and leave the field with a personal tally of 19 points capping a man of the match performance. 29-49.
Exeter have the ability to strike in a flash and that's what they did as 2 quick tries were scored against a now weary, punch drunk, Hornets team who had given everything. 8 minutes remained and did the Students have enough to perform the comeback.36-49.
Hornets were now defending the win and their defence was superb as Exeter spilt the ball in contact on a few occasions and Hornets were in complete control now. One last such spillage and Hornets launched the attack as Sheppard surged to get close and in the ruck Davis was able to stretch out to score and only seconds to go.36-54.
Exeter had the last play but were stopped again by solid defence and the ref blew for full time.
Exeter University 36 Hornets 54.
This has to go down as one of the best away wins at this level as the much fancied Students just weren't allowed to play their style of flowing rugby and the win at Topsham was huge reward for Hornets hard work and 5 points in the bag.
Next up next week the mouthwatering prospect of Clifton at Home as the visitors come back to the Nest following their exploits at Nat 1. Kick off 3pm.
