West Country Challenge Cup


Gloucester 31 Exeter Chiefs 33

GLOUCESTER rugby director David Humphreys has been left with some injury headaches after the last pre-season warm-up at Bristol's Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
The Cherry and Whites kick-off their new Aviva Premiership season on Friday at Newcastle but Humphreys saw four of his senior players limp off the pitch in their West Country Challenge Cup clash with Exeter Chiefs.
Most worrying of them was a bad leg problem to hooker Darren Dawidiuk who came off just minutes into the game.
On the half-hour, prop John Afoa, number eight Gareth Evans and replacement Dan Thomas all left the scene with problems.
Gloucester lead at half-time by 21-20 after they fought  from behind to get ahead. Gloucester's defence leaked two driven tries in the opening 17 minutes as number eight Thomas Waldrom and former Bath wing Olly Woodburn, plus two Gareth Steenson conversions, put Exeter 14-0 in front.
But when the Chiefs had flanker Julian Salvi sent to the sin-bin on 23 minutes, the Cherry and Whites fought back.
Flanker Matt Kvesic scored from a driving line-out wide on the blindside right with England cap Billy Twelvetrees, playing at fly-half, converted.
Dteenson booted a big 40 metre penalty just after the half-hour but a brilliant back move saw wing Henry Purdy storm over from 25 metres , and, from an attacking line-out, Exeter had no answer when centre Mark Atkinson found a gap ten metres out.
Twelvetrees converted both touchdowns to give Humphreys at least some comfort on a disruptive first period.
But Exeter regained the lead ten minutes into the second half when good build-up work by Woodburn saw flanker Don Armand go over in the corner, with Steenson adding the extras to them six points ahead.
Exeter were reduced to 14 men again on the hour when lock Damian Welch was sent to the sin-bin. However, Gloucester were unable to capitalise on it.
They hardly went out of Exeter 22 but could not get the try until seven minutes from time when a move across from the left saw centre Steve McColl go over for a try which Twelvetrees converted.
Replacement Will Hooley and Twelvetrees swapped penalties but when Gloucester were accused of not releasing, Hooley had a kick to put his side back in front from 20 metres which he took.
Gloucester nearly got the winning try when McColl raced 50 metres down the line but he was bundled into touch just short and that was their last chance.