Under-18s slip to home defeat

By Mark Stevens
7/2/17

Exeter Chiefs Under-18s saw their 100 per cent record in this season’s Academy Under-18s League fall by the wayside after they lost at home to Saracens 29-17.

Having collected wins in their opening four fixtures, Rob Gibson’s side were unable to find the winning formula for this latest encounter against the powerful Londoners.

In a strong start to the game, Saracens took the lead on nine minutes when winger Oliver Bluck worked his way over for the first of five tries on the day.

Lock Joel Kpoku doubled their lead shortly after with a second score, this time converted by fly-half Manu Vunipola, before the Chiefs finally started to kick into life.

Midway through the half the Chiefs reduced the deficit when full-back Finn Marks raced over, but that would be their only reward as the visitors led 12-5 at the break.

Any hopes of a home revival were quickly doused early in the second half as Bluck claimed his second of the game.

Again, the Chiefs responded valiantly, this time fashioning an open for replacement hooker Will Ridout to go over.

However, Saracens regrouped well and just before the hour mark they claimed the all-important fourth try when replacement back-row Oscar Furneaux went over, quickly followed by a conversion from Vunipola.

Minutes later and the visitors confirmed their superiority when David Jimoh Ibrahim added a fifth try to make it 29-10.

To their credit, the Chiefs refused to bow and in a spirited show of defiance, they added a late try when Lewis Pearson (pictured) scored with Gwyn Parks adding the conversion.

Post-match, Gibson said: “If we’re honest we never showed the fluidity in attack that we have shown in the past few games. As always, it’s about learning for this group of players and hopefully we have learned a great deal from the experience.

“Even at this level the margins are fine and the standard of the competition will see you pay for lapses of concentration and mistakes.”

This Saturday, the Under-18s are in action again, this time at home to leaders Harlequins, who they face at Flowerpots Playing Field (1pm).