Exeter Chiefs U18s 44 - Saracens U18s 27

Exeter Chiefs Academy U18 continued their impressive start to the 23-24 season with a free-flowing, hard-fought victory over their Saracens counterparts at Truro College on Wednesday 23rd September.

The Chiefs team, fresh off an impressive showing at the RFU Malvern Tournament with wins over Newcastle Sale and Bath, went into the Premier Rugby U18 League first round with confidence high.

The squad was bolstered by the return of centre Nick Lilley, who was named player of the series in South Africa with England U18s. Nick could have been forgiven for taking a rest after a demanding tour with the national set up, however he arrived at Heathrow a few days prior to match day and came straight into training, expressing his desire to play with his mates.  It's a testament to the strength within this group of players that he was so keen to represent the Chiefs.

Scoring started early with Seva Kava scoring after just 4 minutes and fly-half Freddie Hirst adding the conversion. It didn’t take long for Saracens to reply through their powerful driving maul, through hooker Young on the 8 minute mark. The tone was set for a highly entertaining game, 7-7 after 8 minutes.

The Sarries number two dotted down for his second shortly before the half-hour mark. Neither side were going to be denied in the early stages and the Chiefs hit back almost immediately through Lilley, who threaded the needle to put fellow centre Luca Brano into the tiniest of gaps and bring things level.

Just before half time Exeter re-took the lead with scrum half Pengelly darting over to open a five point gap going into the break.

HT score 17-12 to Chiefs.

There was no change in the quality or intensity from either side after half-time, with Saracens scoring 3 minutes into the half giving them a two point lead, and truly making this game on!

Chiefs dotted down through hooker Tyler Bayley but Saracens wrestled back momentum and got their fourth of the contest to level the game at 24-24 going into the final twenty minutes.

In a match of seemingly never ending twists and turns, replacement Chiefs hooker Hocking scored before penalties were traded and the encounter became about game management, scoring slowed but there was no let up in intensity.

Fly half Freddie Hirst, who had an outstanding afternoon, sent over 2 pressure penalties opening up a little breathing space for the Chiefs, 37-27, before Kava finishing a fine individual try after some great build up work and Hirst once again adding the extras on the final whistle.

Exeter Chiefs U18 44 Saracens U18 27

Coaches Marek Churcher, Keith Brooking and Tom Rawlings were full of praise for the youngsters in their attitude and intensity, entertaining the large crowd of supporters in a superb spectacle, with both sides contributing to what was an incredibly high quality game.

The college season now awaits the players before resuming competition against Bath.