Jacques Vermeulen’s double keeps Exeter Chiefs’ slim play-off chances alive in record Kingsholm win
Exeter Chief's Jacques Vermeulen is tackled by Gloucester's Zach Mercer and Ruan Ackermann.
Forward Jacques Vermeulen scored two tries as Exeter Chiefs racked up a record points tally at Kingsholm Stadium, defeating Gloucester 17-38.
Vermeulen scored in both halves as Rob Baxter’s charges battered their way past Gloucester, who were just playing for pride, having already fallen out of the play-off race.
Fullback Dan John and wingers Olly Woodburn and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso also crossed for tries for Exeter as they claimed their try bonus point, with Henry Slade kicking five conversions and a penalty for a 13-point haul.
Outgoing Cherry and Whites winger Jonny May scored his side’s opening try, with Jack Clement and Arthur Clark scoring tries, with Charlie Atkinson adding a conversion as they suffered their 12th defeat of the Premiership season.
Click here for scorers
The Chiefs still have it all to do, lying four points adrift of the top four with only two regular-season games left.
But they remained in the mix ahead of remaining fixtures against Harlequins and Leicester through a bonus-point victory orchestrated by England centre Henry Slade as his creativity in the midfield causing Gloucester problems all afternoon.
Ninth-placed Gloucester undoubtedly had an eye on next weekend’s European Challenge Cup semi-final appointment with Benetton, and they never seriously threatened Exeter despite their three tries.
Exeter made the early running and almost went ahead when scrum-half Tom Cairns charged down a kick from his opposite number Stephen Varney, but although Gloucester escaped on that occasion, they fell behind to a 40-metre Slade penalty.
Gloucester then went close through centre Max Llewellyn, but Exeter were quickly back on the front foot and extended their lead after 14 minutes. The home side managed to halt a driven lineout, but Exeter stayed patient, and Vermeulen went over from close range, with Slade adding the conversion.
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Exeter continued moving impressively through the gears, and a second try arrived just four minutes later after Joe Hawkins sent his midfield partner Slade through a huge gap, with John providing the finish.
Slade’s conversion made it 17-0, leaving Gloucester in all kinds of strife until May provided a glimmer of hope for them when he scored a try 11 minutes before the interval.
But Exeter soon reasserted themselves on the contest, cutting open Gloucester’s defence courtesy of Slade’s break, and Woodburn applied the finish.
Slade converted from the touchline, yet Gloucester had the first-half’s final say when Clement crossed unopposed, reducing Exeter’s lead to 24-10.
Gloucester began the second period brightly through strong attacking work from May and Llewellyn, only to see Exeter regain territorial control and Harvey Skinner’s long pass send an unmarked Feyi-Waboso over to score.
Slade’s immaculate form with the boot continued via a touchline conversion, but after Clark charged down a Cairns clearance to score and Atkinson converted, Gloucester threatened an unlikely fightback.
Centre Chris Harris broke clear in midfield and found Varney in support, and it took an outstanding cover tackle from Skinner to deny the Italy international.
It was a warning to the Chiefs, but once again, they responded, and Vermeulen’s second try, converted by Slade, put considerable daylight between the teams.
Gloucester pushed for their fourth try, and a losing bonus point during the closing stages, but Exeter comfortably kept them out as they made it an emphatic case of job done.
The teams
Gloucester: 15 Jake Morris, 14 Jonny May, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Max Llewellyn, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Charlie Atkinson, 9 Stephen Varney, 8 Zach Mercer (c), 7 Jack Clement, 6 Ruan Ackermann, 5 Arthur Clark, 4 Freddie Clarke, 3 Kirill Gotovtsev, 2 Seb Blake, 1 Jamal Ford-Robinson
Replacements: 16 Santi Socino, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Ciaran Knight, 19 Freddie Thomas, 20 Lewis Ludlow, 21 Charlie Chapman, 22 Caolan Englefield, 23 Louis Hillman-Cooper
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Dan John, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Tom Cairns, 8 Greg Fisilau, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Ethan Roots, 5 Dafydd Jenkins (c), 4 Jack Dunne, 3 Marcus Street, 2 Jack Yeandle, 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Max Norey, 17 Danny Southworth, 18 Ehren Painter, 19 Christ Tshiunza, 20 Ross Vintcent, 21 Niall Armstrong, 22 Will Haydon-Wood, 23 Zack Wimbush
Venue: Kingsholm Stadium
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Referee: Christophe Ridley
Assistant Referees: Tom Foley, Peter Allan
TMO: Stuart Terheege
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