University of Exeter Women’s Rugby team euphoric BUCS Champions

Supporters from the University made the journey to the home of English Rugby to support the side who faced reigning champions Cardiff Met, a team who had been crowned winners of the BUCS Premier South League earlier in the year and who were undefeated since March 2011.

The match started slowly for the University of Exeter who quickly found themselves 12-0 behind following two tries from the 2012 champions. However, two injuries in quick succession for Cardiff offered an opportunity to bridge the gap, which Exeter seized just before the half time whistle - the forwards driving Cardiff back over their own try line for Ellis Collins to place the ball down and Lucy Demaine adding the extras.

The second half continued to prove a close affair. A penalty allowed Cardiff to further the gap to 15-7, however the University of Exeter’s forwards continued to pressurise, Zoe Saynor going over to reduce the gap back to three.

A late penalty offered the University of Exeter the opportunity to equalise, but the side sensed victory, quickly taking the kick, spreading the ball to Poppy Davis who placed the winning try of the game in the dying minutes of the match.

A delighted club captain, and senior England International Amber Reed commented: “We definitely went into the game as underdogs as Cardiff Met., formerly UWIC, were firm favourite to retain their title. Despite the excitement of the opportunity to play at Twickenham all the girls were very calm and collected throughout the day and focused on the job in hand. We stuck to our game plan throughout and knew our fitness would pull us through (thanks to [strength and conditioning coach] Andy Adams).

This was a genuine squad performance with all of the women making a contribution to our victory. We must also say a huge thank you to the whole coaching team for bringing us to the final in peak condition”.

Director of Sport Phil Attwell travelled to the match and was thrilled with the result, he said: “It was an incredibly tough game and very tense right until the finish. The team showed huge determination to overturn scores against them and not give up even in the final minutes of the match. The whole side have played exceptionally well and deserve all of the credit for this fantastic performance.”