Exeter Chiefs Fight Back to Beat Gloucester in 22-15 Triumph

Exeter Chiefs secured their first win of the Premiership season with a 22-15 victory over Gloucester, lifting themselves off the bottom of the table. The Chiefs led 14-3 at halftime, thanks to tries from Dan Frost and Tamati Tua but Gloucester fought back in the second half. Gareth Anscombe intercepted a pass for a try, and Jamal Ford-Robinson added a score to put the visitors ahead by 63 minutes. However, Exeter regained the lead with a Henry Slade penalty and a late try from Josh Iosefa-Scott securing their first win in 232 days.

Exeter climbed above Newcastle Falcons into ninth place with the victory while Gloucester despite earning a losing bonus point remained in sixth. Exeter capitalized on an early Gloucester mistake when Frost pounced on a loose lineout throw to score after just 90 seconds. Tua added a second try, giving the Chiefs a comfortable first-half lead. Exeter’s defense kept Gloucester’s usual attacking threat at bay throughout the first half.

However, the game shifted in the second half. Anscombe intercepted a pass to score, and Ford-Robinson’s mauling try put Gloucester in front. Exeter responded with Slade’s penalty and, after Santi Carreras missed a crucial penalty for Gloucester, Iosefa-Scott sealed the win with a try. Gloucester’s hopes of a fourth straight victory were dashed as they failed to secure their first win in Devon since 2015.

Exeter Chiefs’ director of rugby, Rob Baxter praised his side’s resilience, acknowledging the tense nature of the game. Gloucester’s head coach, George Skivington, expressed disappointment with his team’s attacking performance, highlighting poor phase play and a malfunctioning lineout as key factors in their defeat.