Hail to the Chiefs
EXETER CAP SUPERB YEAR WITH MAULING OF TOOTHLESS TIGERS
ExETEr surged 10 points clear at the top of the Premiership yesterday, and though they are not quite in the dominant class of Manchester City yet, it will take a fine team to stop them winning back-to-back titles now.
Their key men were on song again. Henry Slade provided his wonderful touches in midfield and scored a breakaway try, Don Armand was a colossus at flanker — he too scored a try and showed Eddie Jones why he should be in the England reckoning — and Jack Nowell was at his elusive best on the wing.
But while the Chiefs sealed a bonus-point win with four tries, the last coming through Jack Yeandle from a rolling maul with the clock dead, Leicester end the year ninth after their worst run in 52 years.
The last time they lost six in a row Harold Wilson was Prime Minister and a try was only worth three points.
For Exeter it was the perfect end to a perfect year.
They have only lost twice in the league in the last 12 months and stormed to their maiden title triumph in May.
‘It has been one of those years you don’t want to end,’ said director of rugby rob Baxter.
‘I hope everyone will go away now and have a few beers and decompress a little bit and enjoy their New Year’s Eve.
‘And then we’ll all have a headache tomorrow and we’ll get on with things and make sure Tuesday is a good training day because that ultimately is what will makes us successful for Newcastle.’
Of their poor run Leicester boss Matt O’Connor said: ‘It takes its toll. It certainly speaks volumes for how competitive the league is.
‘I thought Exeter were outstanding in the second half — they looked after the ball, took their chances and we weren’t good enough to stop them.’ em.
Exeter have providedvided the most joyous entertainment ertainandy down at Sandy Park this year, but their last match of 2017 did not t continue in that t vein — at least initially.
By the end of the first half here they were ahead d 6-3 over Leicester, r, a pre- match rain in storm made the half scrappy with a plethora letherrors of handling errors restricting the flow. w.
Exeter hooker Luke CowanDickie went off with a hip injury after just eight minutes and it took 16 more minutes of fumbling before they took the lead, Slade knocking over a penalty from 48 metres out with ease.
After the break the game did not qquite open up in the manner eveeveryone wanted it to,to but there were four ttries to enjoy. The firfirst was a typical multi-phase move from the Devonians. The Chiefs forwards hammered into Leicester near the goal- line — Thomas Waldrom, then Harry Williams and finally Armand went for short darts before the latter powered over. Next Exeter benefited from a Jonny May howler. Scrum-half Nic White box-kicked up to halfway and May raced up from fullback — where he was stuck after a late change before kick-off.
In his panic he slapped the ball backwards but it went straight into the grateful arms of Slade who ran it in from 45 metres. Steenson took both conversions and Exeter now led by 14.
Then a third try — this time lock Jonny Hill sent over on the left wing where there was acres of space. Slade pulled the wide conversion. Exeter wanted a fourth and with time elapsed they kicked to the corner and set the maul — and sure enough the rumble eventually took them over with Yeandle at the bottom of the pile.
Slade hit a post with the conversion, but the convincing victory capped a stunning 12 months down this way — 2017 was the year the Chiefs proved they were the best in the land and at this rate in 2018 they could be crowned again.