THE University of Plymouth will be hoping to cap a memorable few days by winning the annual varsity game against Plymouth Marjon on Monday night at Brickfields.

The side will go into that showpiece event on a major high after winning the BUCS Western Tier Two title on Wednesday at Ivybridge.

Plymouth went into the game against the University of Exeter VI knowing they needed a five-point win to lift the crown and secure promotion.

And they did just that with a 43-21 victory at Cross-in-Hand.

They did the damage in the first half, storming into a 26-7 lead thanks to tries by Henry Gascoyne, Archie Powis (2) and Erdem Mumcu.

Gascoyne added another after the interval to go with further ones from Emile Bleriot and William Brooksbank. Vice-captain Freddie Fuller added the conversions.

“It was awesome,” said Fuller afterwards.

“We came out pretty strong. It is always tough playing an Exeter side as you don’t really know how strong they are going to be until the opening five or 10 minutes.

“But the opening five minutes really gave us some confidence as we were down in their half quite a lot.

“We missed a few opportunities early on, but I think we all knew if we just had a bit of calm about us we could do a number of them. It was a good performance.

“We got the bonus point try right at the end of the first half, which was really good.

“We had the wind with us first half and so we knew the second half would be a bit tougher. To get that bonus point try sorted in the first half was class.”

He added: “The celebrations were brilliant, but we have to go again on Monday.

“It is important to stay grounded. We know Marjon will be up for it. We just have to go out with the same attitude we have in all our games this season.”

Fuller admits it is always special to play in the varsity match.

“It is always a great night with the women’s game and then our one,” he said. “I think we had 2,000 there last year.

“This year it is in the Easter break, but hopefully we can get a similar attendance.”

The University of Plymouth side will be a losing a few key players who graduate this year, including Fuller, so have some gaps to fill next season for the higher division.

“Uni rugby is always like that with players coming and going,” said Fuller. “But we have had a brilliant first-year intake this year so hopefully we can have the same again next year and the team can kick-on.

“The lads that have come in this year have been brilliant.”