Gloucester top to deny come out on battling Chiefs
The Rugby Paper|December 17, 2023
DEFENDING champions GloucesterHartpury thwarted a superb Exeter fightback to maintain their 100 per cent record in a thriller at Sandy Park.
STEWART MCCULLOUGH
Gloucester top to deny come out on battling Chiefs

The visitors led 19-0 after 32 minutes, but a second-half recovery inspired by two-try England winger Claudia MacDonald saw the Chiefs lead 27-26 before a Mia Venner try five minutes from time sealed victory for the Cherry and Whites in a repeat of last year’s final.

Gloucester-Hartpury head coach Sean Lynn commented: “The players responding to the messages from the coaching staff is outstanding, and it shows the character of the squad to be put under that pressure and come back out on top.”

Exeter had no answer to Gloucester’s impressive driving maul early on, with catch-and-drive tries by hooker Kelsey Jones and No.8 Alex Matthews, one converted by Emma Sing, giving the visitors a 12-0 lead.

This story is from the December 17, 2023 edition of The Rugby Paper.

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This story is from the December 17, 2023 edition of The Rugby Paper.

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