Exeter’s aspirations for a place in the Gallagher Premiership play‑offs took a hit after eighth‑placed Gloucester produced a thrilling upset, edging the visitors 34‑31 at Kingsholm. The win not only handed Gloucester a valuable bonus‑point but also kept their own hopes of securing an Investec Champions Cup berth alive, thanks to a pair of tries from Max Llewellyn and Will Trenholm, a further score from Wales international Tomos Williams, and the reliable boot of George Barton, who added three conversions and a penalty.
Exeter, despite being out‑matched in raw physicality, fought back fiercely. Tries from Immanuel Feyi‑Waboso, Ross Vintcent, Greg Fisilau and veteran Henry Slade – complemented by two of Slade's conversions and a penalty‑try awarded to the Chiefs – ensured the match remained a nail‑biting contest right up to the final whistle. The drama was amplified when Gloucester were reduced to 14 men after prop Dane Bieuler received a yellow card, and Exeter’s woes deepened when flanker Ethan Roots was shown a red card for an off‑the‑ball incident in the closing stages, leaving the Chiefs a man short for the last twenty minutes. Even in defeat, the Chiefs sit fourth on the league table, buoyed by two losing‑bonus points that keep them a solitary point ahead of fifth‑placed Bristol.
The game opened with immediate intent from Exeter. Within the first minute, wing Paul Brown‑Bampoe gathered a loose ball and sprinted down the right flank, feeding an unmarked Ross Vintcent who dived over for the opening try after just 54 seconds. Gloucester answered swiftly; Llewellyn, the Welsh centre, crossed the line and Barton’s conversion put the home side level. The early exchanges set the tone for a fast‑paced, high‑intensity encounter.
Gloucester’s momentum grew when Tomos Williams exploited a momentary lapse in the Chiefs’ defensive line, slipping through a crowded tackle zone to touch down. Three minutes later, Ben Loader’s incisive running and deft off‑load created space for Llewellyn to claim his second try of the afternoon, and Barton’s successful kick stretched Gloucester’s lead to fourteen points. Exeter, refusing to capitulate, mounted a rapid response. England international Immanuel Feyi‑Waboso sliced through the Gloucester back‑line, evading several defenders before grounding the ball.
Henry Slade’s conversion nudged the visitors back within striking distance at 19‑12. The home side, however, continued to apply pressure.
Will Trenholm powered over from close range just before the half‑hour mark, and Barton’s third conversion widened the gap once more, leaving Exeter scrambling to regain parity. The second half began with a setback for Gloucester when Llewellyn failed his Head Injury Assessment and could not return. Exeter’s coach Rob Baxter responded by reshuffling the front row, introducing Max Norey, Ethan Burger and Jimmy Roots to bolster the scrum.
Gloucester’s replacement, Ollie Thorley, appeared to have scored on his first touch, but referee Matthew Carley disallowed the try after spotting a forward pass from hooker Jack Innard to flanker Freddie Thomas. Undeterred, Exeter struck again two minutes later.
Feyi‑Waboso’s sharp running created a gap that allowed Greg Fisilau to dive over for a well‑timed try, with Slade adding the conversion. The Chiefs seemed to be clawing back into the contest. A Barton penalty soon restored Gloucester’s double‑digit advantage, and the home side appeared to be sealing the victory when Trenholm added a second try from close range. However, a pivotal moment arrived when the referee awarded a penalty try against Exeter after a clear infringement in the in‑goal area.
The decision also resulted in Dane Bieuler’s sin‑bin, reducing Gloucester to fourteen men. Despite being a man down, Gloucester held firm, and Slade’s late try for Exeter proved merely a consolation. The final whistle confirmed a 34‑31 win for Gloucester, a result that not only dented Exeter’s play‑off ambitions but also reinforced Gloucester’s push for European competition. The match will be remembered for its relentless pace, the impact of disciplinary actions, and the fine margins that separated the two sides in a tightly contested derby.