Gloucester delivered a record-breaking performance in their West Country derby against Exeter, hammering the visitors 79-17 at Kingsholm. The home side ran in 13 tries, thoroughly dismantling their rivals in a match that will be remembered for its sheer dominance. Despite missing half a dozen conversions, Gloucester’s relentless attack was too much for Exeter to handle. This crushing defeat marked the heaviest in Exeter’s top-division history, surpassing their previous worst loss by a wide margin.
The game was effectively decided early on, with Gloucester scoring six tries in the first 30 minutes. Their forwards were especially effective, with two powerful driven mauls leading to scores for Jack Clement and Seb Blake. From there, the floodgates opened. Chris Harris, Seb Atkinson, and Gareth Anscombe added to the tally, and the crowd at Kingsholm was already enjoying a festival of tries.
Exeter showed signs of life with a brief period of attacking play, which culminated in Josh Hodge’s try, but they were unable to stem the tide of Gloucester’s attack. The visitors’ defense was porous, and their inability to slow the ball down allowed Gloucester to move with pace and precision. Tomos Williams, in particular, was instrumental, pulling the strings at scrum-half. His offloads and quick thinking put his teammates into space, with one memorable 30-yard pass over the top to Jake Morris leading to a try for Williams himself.
While the first half was an exercise in frustration for Exeter, the second half didn’t offer much reprieve. Gloucester continued to pour on the points, with Jamal Ford-Robinson and Christian Wade scoring early in the second half. Wade, who is set to join Wigan Rugby League after the season, added a try in his final game at Kingsholm. Even as Exeter made changes, their defense remained brittle, and Gloucester continued to add to the scoreboard.
Seb Atkinson secured a brace, while Jack Singleton completed his hat-trick in just 12 minutes. His rapid-fire trio of tries illustrated just how far Exeter had fallen behind. The hosts’ performance was clinical, with flowing attacks and no shortage of creativity. Despite their dominance, the Gloucester coaching staff would be disappointed with the missed conversions, but the result was still emphatic enough to boost their playoff hopes.
For Exeter, this was a nightmare afternoon. Coach Rob Hunter admitted that it was his worst day in charge, and the mood in the away dressing room was understandably grim. The team, which had reportedly enjoyed a positive week of training, was unrecognizable from the side that had been a dominant force in English rugby in recent seasons. Exeter were left to reflect on a performance that was full of errors, from missed tackles to a lack of cohesion.
Gloucester’s performance will be a confidence boost as they remain in the hunt for a top-four finish, sitting just one point behind fourth-placed Bristol. With three games remaining, they will be looking to build on this momentum, while Exeter must regroup and address the myriad issues exposed in this chastening defeat.
