Exeter University 54 – 12 Cinderford
Cinderford endured a difficult afternoon on the road as Exeter University’s pace and precision proved decisive, the hosts running out convincing winners at Topsham Road.
From the opening exchanges, Exeter set the tempo, consistently generating quick ball and stretching the Cinderford defence with sharp, accurate play. That approach paid early dividends, with winger Noah Fenton the standout in the first half, finishing clinically for a hat-trick of tries as the Students capitalised on sustained pressure.
Further scores from Nick Allison and Tom Gulley compounded Cinderford’s problems, and with fly-half Christy Quirkeconverting all five tries, the home side went into the break with a commanding 35–0 lead.
The second half saw an improved response from the visitors, who showed greater composure and resilience in both attack and defence. Exeter struck first again through Fenton, who completed his fourth try of the afternoon, but Cinderford finally found a foothold in the contest.
Jake Polledri crossed for a well-worked try, converted by Sonny Greenman, before Josh Horrobin added a late consolation score as Cinderford were rewarded for their persistence.
Despite that improved spell, Exeter finished strongly. Second-row James Boylan crossed twice in the final ten minutes, with Quirke again accurate from the tee, bringing the scoring to a close.
While the final scoreline was a disappointing one for Cinderford, there were positives to take from the second-half performance as the side continued to compete until the final whistle. Attention now turns to the next fixture, with lessons learned from a challenging test against high-quality opposition.