Exeter, Newcastle and Leicester register cup wins

Exeter Chiefs lock Rus Tuima carries the ball against GloucesterGetty Images

Rus Tuima opened the floodgates for an Exeter first-half try blitz at Kingsholm

Exeter Chiefs and Newcastle Falcons put league struggles behind them to keep up perfect Premiership Rugby Cup records on Friday and move closer to booking quarter-final spots.

Exeter are winless in the Premiership after six games but continue to use this competition to boost flatlining fortunes.

An outcome which was rarely in doubt finished 31-7 in their favour as Gloucester were downed for the first time in this competition since December 2022.

Newcastle won a thriller 28-27 against Sale Sharks, Brett Connon converting Max Pepper's late try to win by a solitary point.

In the other match, Leicester Tigers posted a first win in three cup outings leaving Championship outfit Nottingham floored after a second-half mauling which saw them win 70-29.

Chiefs rampant against dismal Gloucester

Whatever the misery inflicted by a winless Premiership campaign, it was all smiles for Exeter after a convincing victory over Premiership Rugby Cup holders Gloucester.

In a match the visitors dominated from start to finish, Rus Tuima got the ball rolling after five minutes, burrowing over from close range.

Ben Hammersley added a second, converted by Josh Hodge to give the Chiefs a 14-0 early lead against their shellshocked hosts.

A rampaging effort from Will Rigg, a stunning 70-yard effort from Hodge and a Stu Townsend score completed a 31-0 first-half rout, with Val Rapava Ruskin's second-half score a consolation for the hosts.

Tigers maul Nottingham to post first win

Leicester roared back from an early scare against Championship side Nottingham, for whom Harry Clayton crossed twice to put them into a 12-0 lead after 22 minutes, raising the prospect of a third defeat for the Tigers following losses to Northampton Saints and Coventry.

But Leicester bounced back with four tries before the break to lead 28-12 at half-time, with Matt Rogerson, Archie Vanes, Ollie Allan and Solomone Kata going over.

In the second half the Premiership side displayed class and ruthlessness in equal proportions, running in a further six tries.

Izaia Perese, James Whitcombe, Jack Kinder, Ollie Hassell-Collins (2) and Emeka Ilione all touched down after the interval.

Getty Images

Izaia Perese scored one of Leicester's six second-half tries against Nottingham

Falcons swoop late to deny Sharks

At Kingston Park, Pepper and Connon combined late to extend Newcastle's record to three wins from three and, like Exeter, they have collected a maximum 15 points.

Tadgh McElroy had crashed over early on to give Sale the lead but a Connon penalty and Jamie Blamire's close-range try put the Falcons in front 8-5.

James Harper went over from close range before Tom Gordon for Newcastle and Tom Curtis for Sale exchanged tries.

After Ben Stevenson scored for the hosts, Rouban Birch looked to have sealed matters with a try to make it 27-18 at 68 minutes.

But a Falcons penalty reduced the gap to six points and Pepper ran in late on to set up Connon and leave Sale stunned.

Remaining round three fixtures

Saturday

All kick-off times GMT

  • Pool A: Caldy v Doncaster (14:00)

  • Pool B: Coventry v Northampton Saints (15:00)

  • Pool C: Ealing Trailfinders v London Scottish (15:00); Saracens v Harlequins (15:00)

  • Pool D: Bedford Blues v Bath (15:00)

  • Pool E: Hartpury RFC v Cornish Pirates (14:30)

Sunday

  • Pool D: Bristol v Ampthill (14:00)

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