Exiles get season off to a flying start.

Nika leads another powerful Exiles attack.

Exiles began their defence of the Swedish Championship away to Uppsala yesterday. In blazing sunshine and on a lovely pitch Exiles showed that if anyone thinks their focus is purely abroad now they have entered the Baltic League then they are thoroughly mistaken.

Uppsala had provided the opening fixture for Exiles in the second tier last year, and despite taking a strong side to that fixture Exiles were completely undone by a rampant Uppsala. That experience had left Exiles needing other results to go their way in the Div 1 North before they could rally to take the northern title and mount an attack on the Southern teams. That was not to be the case this time. The club management had learned the lesson and Exiles took possibly the strongest available team to Uppsala for this years opener.

Several Swedish internationals were not available due to injury or otherwise, and a few more squad players were also unavailable, but the squad taken to Uppsala was very strong and proved far too much for an Uppsala side that did not look as strong as last season. Exiles amassing 70 points away, whilst only conceding 5 due to an unfortunate charge-down ricochet in the 22.

That said there was a fair mix in the Exiles lineup, a number of first teamers remain from last year, as do a few of last years team that faced Uppsala, but probably most pleasing was the number of promoted P18s that played or would have done yesterday. Two debuts for the first team in Danzanul and Lejonmark-Haynes, Jordie not quite on debut but still only a handful of games, all acquitted themselves really well, with a lovely outside break by Jordie one of the highlights of the match that eventually led to a 60m try out wide. Two more would have made the squad yesterday had it not been for the untimely return of Dengue Fever and illness in Valdemar and Hanok.

Uppsala provided some spirited resistance to the Exiles onslaught, but in truth the game was not in doubt after the opening quarter. Exiles cruised to a substantial lead playing some patterns that were straight off the training ground and would have pleased the coaches. Two hatricks one in the forwards for Carl and one in the backs for the Polish flyer Robert were well taken; but what must have pleased those coaches even more was that when Exiles went down to 13 men for 10 mins Uppsala still did not breach an impressive defence, and were still unable to dominate the Exiles pack at set piece despite Exiles losing 2 front row forwards.

Exiles looked the more powerful side and proved to be fitter too, the work done in pre season with Sam Rosser paid dividends in the final quarter, when possibly due to first match excitement and a few substitutions, Exiles cohesion started to wane but they were still able to keep scoring.

Overall a very good away trip to Uppsala, a big thanks to all who made it up the E4 to come and support the team in the sunshine. A marker has been set for the season, now it is back to training on Tuesday to prepare for the next round. Final Score 5-70.