Gloucester-Hartpury edge thriller with late try to end Exeter’s winning run

Champions Gloucester-Hartpury earned a 31-27 win over Exeter Chiefs in a thriller that was a repeat of last season’s Premiership Women’s Rugby final.

The momentum swung one way and another at Sandy Park as both sides claimed try-scoring bonus points, but Exeter eventually succumbed to their first loss of the season through a late Mia Venner try.

Gloucester-Hartpury got off to a superb start, racing into a 17-src lead thanks to tries from Kelsey Jones, Alex Matthews and Sam Monaghan.

But DaLeaka Menin pulled one back for the Chiefs before a Claudia MacDonald brace levelled the scores and set up a grandstand finish.

Emily Tuttosi put Exeter in front for the first time, kick-starting a series of lead changes as Matthews restored Gloucester’s advantage before Gabby Contorna kicked the hosts back in front by a single point.

But with seven minutes left on the clock, the luck of the bounce helped Venner collect a kick before sprinting half the length of t