Gloucester 34-18 Exeter Chiefs: Josh Hodge scores a try of the season contender but champions' second string suffer defeat at Kingsholm

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Josh Hodge spectacularly upstaged Gloucester’s international flyers at Kingsholm with a try-of- the-season contender, but Exeter’s second string were unable to maintain title momentum.

The 20-year-old produced glorious individual brilliance as he touched down for the first time since joining the Chiefs from Newcastle last summer.

In the process, Hodge delivered an eye-catching antidote to the gloom in English rugby following the national team’s dire Six Nations campaign.

Josh Hodge scored an incredible try for Exeter in a losing effort for the Chiefs 

Gloucester showed they benefit of experience for a much-needed win at Kingsholm

A year ago, England head coach Eddie Jones added Hodge to his championship squad as an ‘apprentice’ — and the way he single-handedly carved open Gloucester’s defence showed why the tyro from Lancaster is seen as special.

Taking on a home side featuring England’s Jonny May on one wing and Wales sensation Louis Rees-Zammit on the other, Hodge proved that he can live in such exalted company.

It was the seventh minute of this Premiership contest in the West Country when the visitors’ No 15 received a box-kick from Willi Heinz deep in his own half.

He set off across the field, running right to left, burst past Billy Twelvetrees and sent Rees-Zammit tumbling with a hand-off, before leaving Santiago Carreras twisting in his vapour trail with a stunning swerve and acceleration to score on the left.

The subsequent conversion was missed by Harvey Skinner, but the try was a big hit — widely viewed and acclaimed on social media as word spread.

While Hodge brought the empty house down, May endured a frustrating first half — after a very frustrating Six Nations.

Hodge came up with the most memorable moment of the game and Eddie Jones will have seen

In the end, a second string Exeter team could not keep up the team's momentum 

England’s prolific finisher was denied a second-minute try when his foot made fractional contact with the left touchline before a leaping, stretching effort to ground the ball.

Later he was similarly denied as Hodge managed to force him out.

Twelvetrees had a stint in the sin-bin for a swinging arm into Hodge’s neck and jaw, but two tries by hooker Henry Walker from lineout drives kept Gloucester in the game, while Don Armand also crossed for Exeter before the break.

Gloucester reclaimed the lead in the 53rd minute as reward for sustained pressure.

The hosts were awarded a free-kick in the Chiefs 22 and took full advantage. Strong drives softened up the Exeter defence before Charlie Chapman nipped through a gap to touch down.

Louis Rees-Zammit was back in action having starred for Wales in the Six Nations

George Barton added the conversion and a penalty just before the hour to make it 24-15, as Devonian discipline began to unravel.

But Hodge showed that he can hold his own in defence as well as attack — halting Rees-Zammit with a hammer tackle, then bravely swooping to claim the ball at his feet.

Another Skinner penalty kept the under-strength Chiefs in the hunt until Barton was on target again at the other end and a last-gasp penalty try clinched a morale-boosting victory for George Skivington’s team.