Exeter Lose Out After Late Drama
The Exeter Chiefs continue to chase a first win of the Rugby Premiership season after a dramatic late comeback by Bristol saw them take the spoils in a high-scoring affair at Sandy Park.
The Chiefs had slipped to defeat in their opening three games of the new season, with the Vertu Motors-backed side hoping for an upturn in fortunes in the West County derby.
Exeter had already gone close to the opening try before a penalty from Josh Hodge put the Chiefs ahead but it wasn’t for long as barely two minutes later, Kieran Marmion charged through to grab the opening try for the visitors – although AJ MacGinty was unable to fire home the conversion.
Josh Caulfield was then sent to the sinbin and Exeter took full advantage as Paul Brown-Bampoe scored his first Exeter try to put his side back ahead, only for Bristol to fight back to retake the lead through Joe Batley, with MacGinty this time adding the extras.
It looked like the visitors would take an advantage into the second half but a stunning run from Immanuel Feyi-Waboso saw him go underneath the posts to score Exeter’s second try, with Hodge converting a simple kick to earn a slender 15-12 lead at the break.
The Chiefs should have held a bigger lead based on the first half but managed to move further clear when Hodge kicked a penalty shortly into the second half before Brown-Bampoe burst away and Feyi-Waboso also doubled up after an interception to put the home side 31-12 clear and well on course for victory.
The game turned on its head however when Dan Frost was sent to the bin on 65 minutes as Bristol took full advantage of having an extra man.
First, Gabriel Oghre broke away to score Bristol’s third try before two in a matter of moments from Gabriel Ibitoye – and three conversions from MacGinty – put Bristol ahead.
Back to full strength, Exeter reclaimed the lead through a Hodge penalty but there was still time for Bristol to steal a dramatic win when Ibitoye completed his hat-trick to wrap up a 40-35 victory.
Exeter remain ninth in the standings ahead of the next game with Newcastle, who go into the match having lost 25 games in a row.