Match report: Gloucester-Hartpury 14 - 47 Exeter Chiefs Women
Caroline Moore at Hartpury University Stadium
With internationals away for both clubs, this first game of the PWR Up series was an ideal chance for both sets of coaches to look at new, returning and existing players, using rolling substitutions, ahead of the start of the league next month. It was a more positive first-look for the Chiefs coaches as the visitors came away with a 14-47 win.
Chiefs were slower to start, struggling to get out of their own half and a few too many penalties, but it looked like one of the three starting debutants, winger Georgina Tasker, would be the first to score. However, her sprint down the wing was pulled up short following a forward pass.
Better news in the 14th minute when flanker Ebony Jefferies went over despite a fluffed lineout gifting Gloucester-Hartpury possession. The home side’s two long-range kicks were chased down by Eilidh Sinclair and then Naomi Brennan, with the latter resulting in a penalty for the visitors and the forwards were ready to capitalise. Converted by Liv McGoverne.
Gloucester-Hartpury wasted no time in getting themselves on the scoreboard too with a try from Daisy Aspinall after a streaking run down the wing. Converted by Charlie-Mai Manns.
Chiefs, though, were getting into their stride. With the forwards camped on the home side’s line, they were denied on their first attempt, but flanker Maisy Allen would not be told and was over on the second time of asking.
This was a half for tries from forwards. Next up was captain Poppy Leitch after a lineout and ensuing drive bought Chiefs some territory before open play saw Jefferies, McGoverne, Allen and Kayleigh Priest all worry the try line ahead of Leitch’s final touchdown.
Try number two for Allen followed an initial break from Sinclair who deftly caught a high ball before setting off. Flo Robinson tried to bust through the middle too before being on hand to feed to Allen on the wing. At half-time. Chiefs had bagged four tries and four conversions from McGoverne.
Half-time: 7-28
Chiefs opened the second half with a try from scrum-half Robinson after Gloucester-Hartpury knocked on in their own 22. Chiefs' scrum was solid and the ball moved through the backs for Robinson to spot her chance.
This score was quickly followed by a try from fly-half McGoverne. It seemed this half would have more tries from the backs! This time the ball was passed from wing to wing until the visitors found a way through. Converted by Gabby Cantorna.
A slight bump in the road appeared when Aspinall found more space down the wing. Try number two for her and the scoreboard ticked over to 14-40 after another conversion from Manns.
As the game reached its final 10 minutes, a penalty for Chiefs saw props Flo Long and Abby Middlebrooke take some quick hard yards through the middle. McGoverne passed to Sinclair to go under the posts.
A satisfying scoreline for a first game for this new group of players.
Full-time: 14-47
Exeter Chiefs Women: M Doidge; E Sinclair, N Brennan, G Cantorna, G Tasker; L McGoverne, F Robinson; D Swann, K Priest, H Sams, P Leith (c), N Orchard, E Jefferies, M Allen, E Robinson
Rolling reps: M Whitehouse, A Middlebrooke, F Long, T Bricknell, Z Feaunati, L Nye, K Buchanan, M Saunders
Tries: Jefferies, Allen (2), Leitch, F Robinson, McGoverne, Sinclair
Cons: McGoverne (5), Cantorna
Gloucester-Hartpury: C Woodman; D Aspinall, M Hyett, C-M Manns, Z Heeley; E Green, B Blackburn; E Perry, A Dale, R Samuda, S Else (c), B Stafford, Z Dare, G Brock, T Copson
Rolling reps: L Simpson, A Smith, N Williams, S Davies, J Bryan, G Bell, M Bunker, A Pritchard
Tries: Aspinall (2)
Cons: Manns (2)
Referee: George Selwood