Six Tries
Champagne Charlie
By New Cherry
October 29 2022
Nine tries and some thrilling scores shows that rugby is alive and kicking - at least in the West Country. Gloucs eventually triumphed 38-22 against an Exeter side which was always in the game.
The five points moved the Cherry and Whites up to third place on 20 points with one game in hand on Sale in second with 24 points. Sarries still lead on 29 points after the clubs which had already played Wasps saw their results expunged, due to those unfortunate circumstances.
In front of a packed Kingsholm Louis Rees-Zammit was in imperious form. He scoredthe first after a Carreras chargedown and he finished the game with a superb siderstep and a backhanded pass to a showboating Lewis Ludlow to seal the victory.
In between, Maunder had put Exeter in front from close range then Rees-Zammit was stopped agonisingly short after taking a cross kick. This time it was Carreras who benefitted as he followd up.
Exeter came back as Van Heerden powered over. Then it was the home side's turn with Socino being driven over from a maul.
Only two points in it at half time (19-17) but the second half began well for Gloucs with Lloyd Evans sending Carreras away and he sent Charlie Chapman in.
Gloucs looked the stronge,r and it was no surprise when Ruan Ackermann forced his way over. However, Albert Tuise came on and then went off to the bin as a maul was stopped. The visitors promptly scored through Hodge out wide.
Exeter had the scent of at least one bonus point but were denied by that last epic try down the right. The skipper had the broadest smile of the night.