Bournville 27 Exeter University 52
Bournville suffered more misery at the end of a difficult week at Avery Fields with a 12th defeat in 13 matches heightening relegation concerns.
A try bonus point ensured that there was at least some reward for a much-improved performance but Bourns need more if they are to drag themselves out of the bottom two.
With assistant coach Alex Grove in charge following the midweek departure of Matt Price and Managing Director Phil Maynard running the pre-match lineout drills before kick-off, there were different voices for the players to hear.
But the result was the same with Bourns left to rue missed opportunities at critical points of the match.
James Burgoyne lost control of the ball as he was about to be driven over from a driving maul in the first-half and a collapsed attacking five metre scrum early in the second period allowed Exeter’s young pack to escape.
Exeter, in contrast, were clinical in attack and also enjoyed some luck with a sliced penalty kick to touch bouncing unkindly for Bournville but favourably for the students to allow hooker Tyler Bayley to score the opening try.
The students also scored two interception tries, the most damaging from full-back Conor Byrne midway through the second-half when Bournville were pushing for a score that could have reduced the deficit to nine points.
A brace of tries from Nick Murphy, who led by splendid example, secured the try bonus and also got Bourns to within touching distance of a second point only for Exeter to pull away with two tries in the last five minutes.
There were also injuries to Stef Thorp, who hobbled off after five minutes, and Jacob Fewtrell, who was still being treated for a head injury when the match finished, adding to an already lengthy casualty list.
Burgoyne’s availability for next week’s trip to Old Redcliffians is also in doubt after he was sent off for alleged punching in the closing exchanges.
Scrum-half Reiss Price got Bourns on the scoreboard when he finished off a an excellent move started by Fewtrell’s crossfield kick to Alex Evans and supported by Joe Jenkins.
But Exeter then ran in 26 unanswered points in a 17 minute purple patch before Jonjo Fanning was driven over just before half-time to lift spirits.
Nathan Decalmer’s excellent finish to a patient attack raised hopes of a Bournville fightback to match the one they produced against Taunton.
Instead Byrne’s second try decided the result and gave Exeter five points which just about guarantees them another season of National Leagues rugby.
*Bournville Blues topped the half century points mark for the eighth time this season with a 75-0 victory over Hereford II at Wyeside in Counties Three Midlands West (South).
The tries were shared out with ten different players crossing the line with only full-back Mikey Ho scoring twice.
The others came from Ben Harper, Matt Serrell-Cooke, George Ayliffe, Jamie Avery, Jack Mitchell, Liam Turner, Niall Demel and Harry Belcher plus a penalty try and ten conversions from Alex Warner.
