By Matt Priest
A brace from Mikiela Nelson and a score from Clara Neilson were enough for the visitors to leave Kingsholm with a win and an upset over reigning champions Gloucester-Hartpury.
Gloucester-Hartpury started off strongly with an opening try three minutes into the match when Carys Williams-Morris powered through the Exeter defence on her first PWR start and put the ball down in the far corner. Emma Sing missed her first attempt from the T, which gave the hosts an early 5-0 lead.
The lead was short lived however when Chiefs prop Mikiela Nelson finished off a good set of forward phases in the 9th minute for the visitors first try of the afternoon. Chiefs fly half, Liv McGoverne slotted through her first attempt at the posts, putting the Devon based side in front for the first time.
Chiefs added to their lead just over five minutes later when hooker Clara Neilson finished off a well worked lineout move and scored just right of the posts in the 15th minute. McGoverne converted once again increasing the visitors lead to nine.
The visitors carried on their strong period of pressure when Gloucester-Hartpury lock Gwen Grabb was sent to the sin bin in the 26th minute for collapsing the maul, meaning The Circus were down to 14 players.
Gloucester-Hartpury didn’t let the player disadvantage dampen their spirits when hooker Amy Dale converted the hosts second of the match, with some powerful running through the Exeter defence. Sing converted her first of the match with a superb conversion from the far touch line putting the score at 12-14 just after the half hour mark.
Gloucester-Hartpury were awarded a penalty just before the half time whistle which Sing placed beautifully through the centre of the uprights giving the back-to-back PWR champions a one-point lead as the teams went into the dressing rooms.
HALF TIME SCORE- Gloucester-Hartpury 15 – 14 Exeter Chiefs Women
The second half started slowly with neither team able to break the opposition defence, the deadlock was nearly broke when McGoverne broke through the champions defence and into their 22-yard line but her offload to Cramer was knocked on and the score remained 15-14 ten minutes into the second half.
The chiefs thought they had put themselves back in front 55 minutes in, but Charli Jacoby was held up on the Gloucester-Hartpury try line with the hosts defence standing firm so far in the second half.
The host’s defence was finally broken when Nelson got her second of the game in the 56th minute after multiple Gloucester-Hartpury infringements saw Sisilia Tuipulotu enter the bin. Mcgoverne got the extras putting the visitors back in front.
Both teams were down to 14 players when Exeter scrum half Flo Robinson was sent to the bin in the 62nd minute for a breakdown infringement.
A slow end to the second half saw both teams kick for territory as the visitors defended their lead strongly and reigning champions, Gloucester-Hartpury unable to find the space through the visitors fast paced defensive line.
A superb line break from Sing put Gloucester-Hartpury within five metres of the try line, however some more stellar defending by Exeter saw this attack out and a turnover in the ruck allowed them to relieve the pressure on themselves.
A last minute penalty by Chiefs fly half Mcgoverne was missed leaving the score at 15-21 which meant Gloucester-Hartpury left with a losing bonus point.
Gloucester-Hartpury: 15
Tries: 2 (Williams-Morris 3’ Dale 33’)
Conversions: 1 (Sing 33’)
Penalties: 1 (Sing 40’)
Yellow cards: 2 (Crabb 26’ Tuipulotu 56’)
Red cards: 0
15. Emma Sing 14. Carys Williams-Morris 13. Hannah Jones 12. Pip Hendy 11. Rachel Lund 10. Millie Hyett 9. Bianca Blackburn 1. El Perry 2. Amy Dale 3. Ranni Samuda 4. Beth Stafford 5. Gwen Crabb 6. Steph Else (captain) 7. Kate Williams 8. Tabitha Copson
Replacements:
16. Lucy Simpson (64’) 17. Lisa Cockburn (45’) 18. Sisilia Tuipulotu (40’) 19. Robyn Davies (74’) 20. Gwennan Hopkins (64’) 21. Gemma Bell 22. Ellie Green 23. Charlie-Mai Manns
Exeter Chiefs Women: 21
Tries: 3 (Nelson 9’ 56’ Nielson 15’)
Conversions: 3 (McGoverne 10’ 16’ 56’)
Penalties: 0
Yellow cards: 1 (Robinson 62’)
Red cards: 0
15. Merryn Doidge 14. Eilidh Sinclair 13. Nancy McGillivray 12. Gabby Cantorna 11. Sabrina Poulin 10. Liv McGoverne 9. Flo Robinson 1. Mikiela Nelson 2. Clara Nielson 3. Flo Long 4. Poppy Leitch (captain) 5. Niamh Orchard 6. Ebony Jefferies 7. Maisy Allen 8. Emily Robinson
Replacements:
16. Cliodhna Moloney (45’) 17. Demi Swann (67’) 18. Charli Jacoby (45’) 19. Linde Van Der Velden (57’) 20. Taz Brickenll 21. Lucy Nye 22. Naomi Brennan 23. Lori Cramer (50’)
Five talking points: Gloucester-Hartpury 15 – 21 Exeter Chiefs Women
1) The back-to-back champions fall to their first defeat of the season – A stalwart performance from the Exeter defence prevented Gloucester-Hartpury from playing their usual fast paced rugby. Only giving up two tries to a team that put 57 points on Leicester just two weeks ago is a sensational effort.
2) Gloucester – Hartpury missing their internationals- In a game which saw multiple Gloucester – Hartpury players, including club captains Zoe Aldcroft and Mo Hunt missing, it was evident their experience was needed to help out the young players filling their boots on the field today.
3) A promising start to the season for Exeter- The visitors continue their unbeaten start to the season with an upset win at Kingsholm, the Chiefs look like a surprise team for the title this season if their early season form is anything to go by.
4) McGoverne shines for Exeter- The Kiwi fly half really set the tone for the visitors today, commanding in attack and equally as impressive in defence, an outstanding performance all round and a contender for player of the match.
5) Exeter front row dominance- Gloucester-Hartpury just couldn’t keep up with the front row of the Chiefs, the trio of Nelson, Neilson and Long saw off their opposing numbers with ease, winning multiple scrum and breakdown penalties and Neilson and Nelson both getting on the score sheet.
Players of the game
Mikiela Nelson- Unsurprisingly a brace from Exeter’s loosehead prop sees her in the top three players of the game. A great performance from Neilson at the breakdown and some hard carries saw her stand out in a game which many thought the Gloucester-Hartpury pack would dominate, especially with the return of Sisilia Tuipulotu from international duty.
Liv McGoverne- The Kiwi fly half really ran the show today, multiple line breaks, a 50-22 kick and some outstanding attacking play. McGoverne was a strong part of the Chiefs’ win today and without her creativity and spark the result of the game could’ve been very different.
Emma Sing- The Gloucester- Hartpury fullback was once again The Circus’s best player on the pitch, just as she had been in their opening two fixtures. Sing did her best to put the hosts back in front in the second half with multiple line breaks and her fair share of tackles to stop the Chiefs from increasing their lead. Ultimately, her efforts were in vain, and the visitors left Kingsholm with a victory.
Uncapped England player to watch: Niamh Orchard – The young lock will be hoping this season is her breakthrough season for the Chiefs after helping Exeter University to the BUCS title in 2022/2023. The England under 20’s will be hoping to break into the senior team soon and if she keeps up the dominant line out play and turnover game, it won’t be long until we see her win her first Red Roses ca
