WATCH: Dramatic scenes as last-gasp heroics rescue Exeter
Henry Slade landed a 45-metre penalty with the last kick of the match to secure a 25-24 victory and maintain Gloucester’s miserable record at Sandy Park.
In an error-ridden West Country derby, Gloucester led 24-15 with four minutes remaining, but a late converted try from Stu Townsend and Slade’s late penalty ensured their losing run continued – they have not won a league fixture at Sandy Park since January 2015.
Rusi Tuima, Dafydd Jenkins and Townsend scored Exeter’s tries, with Slade adding two conversions and two penalties.
Jack Clement, Ollie Thorley, Louis Rees-Zammit and Seb Atkinson crossed for the visitors, with George Barton kicking two conversions.
Gloucester suffered an early blow when their number eight, Clement, was sin-binned for a high challenge on Tuima, which placed them under relentless pressure.
The visitors were penned in their own 22, with a score almost inevitable, and it arrived when Tuima forced his way over to give Chiefs an 11th-minute lead.
Clement returned with no further damage to the scoreboard, but his side soon suffered a further setback when flanker Albert Tuisue was forced off with a leg injury.
The first quarter was a stop-start affair with frequent interruptions and Tuima’s converted try was the only score during that largely featureless period.
Gloucester needed a boost and it came in the 22nd minute when Tuima was shown a yellow card for a head-high tackle on George McGuigan, and in the lock’s absence they drew level.
From a line-out deep in home territory, Rees-Zammit tested the defence with a strong burst before Clement exploded through a huge gap to run in under the posts.
Tuima returned in time to see his side regain the lead with a well-created try. An inside pass to Slade saw the centre race 25 metres before providing skipper Jenkins with an easy run-in.
Slade missed the conversion, but the Chiefs still held a deserved 12-7 interval lead.
What a beauty 😍@GloucesterRugby are back level at 12-12 with this finish from Ollie Thorley 🔥#GallagherPrem pic.twitter.com/7PAUYRwWRe
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) November 19, 2023
Neither side threatened the try-line in the first 15 minutes of the second half and it came as some surprise when Gloucester conjured up a decent try as Santi Carreras gave Thorley a scoring opportunity, which the wing took in style.
Barton’s conversion rebounded back off a post so the scores were level at 12-12 going into the final quarter.
Exeter had earlier turned down a kickable penalty, but regained the advantage when Slade was successful from 45 metres after another visiting infringement.
With 14 minutes remaining, Gloucester took the lead for the first time when Rees-Zammit deceived two defenders with his elusiveness and speed to race over.
Lightning strikes ⚡️@gloucesterrugby take the lead with a bit of @LouisReesZammit magic 🪄#GallagherPrem #EXEvGLO pic.twitter.com/jJYlvG2SZC
— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) November 19, 2023
Three minutes later, Gloucester stunned their opponents by scoring a bonus-point try through Atkinson to reward a sustained period of pressure.
Townsend darted over with four minutes remaining for the hosts, with Slade’s conversion getting them to within two points of the away side.
And Slade’s last-gasp penalty snatched victory to keep Exeter’s impressive home record for the season intact.
THE CHIEFS HAVE DONE IT! 🤯
Henry Slade with nerves of steel scores this penalty with the clock in the red to give @ExeterChiefs the 25-24 win over Gloucester!#GallagherPrem pic.twitter.com/BgBsKn1xLj
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) November 19, 2023
Takes the game winning kick…
But what Craig Doyle really wants to know is what Henry Slade’s breath smells like 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/hzKbgsCAig
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) November 19, 2023
Comments on RugbyPass
Tamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
1 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to comments