Express & Echo (City & East Devon Edition)
Big day in development of Chiefs’ class of 2024
THERE is always something special about a South West rugby derby – but when a quarter-final spot in the European Champions Cup is on offer, the stakes could hardly be higher.
Such was the scale of this game that even nature weighed in with Storm Kathleen challenging all with huge gusts of wind that could easily have defined this day.
With the near gale force wind at their backs, Chiefs pinned Bath deep in their own 22. Refusing several kickable penalty opportunities, Chiefs stuck firmly to a sustained pick-and-go offence pounding the Bath line, landing body blows that would pay dividends later in the game.
Pushing the laws to the limit, Bath’s defence held firm with bonecrunching tackles, leaving more than a few sore ribs come Sunday morning. Repeated defensive penalties resulted in a yellow card to Bath’s influential hooker Tom Dunn.
Crucially, the visitors’ problems were made worse by an early injury forcing their superstar midfield general Finn Russell to limp out of the game on 15 minutes.
On 23 minutes Bath overcame the elements to stun the Sandy Park faithful when Thomas du Toit powered over the Exeter try line from close range to open the scoring.
Such was the strength of the wind a well hit conversion saw the ball enroute for the posts hold up in the air to be blown back into the Chiefs 22 well short of the target.
Having camped in Baths 22 for most of the first quarter Chiefs trailed 5-0 to their defiant visitors. The stunned Sandy Park faithful were soon back in full voice when Ross Vincent pounced to snatch position and score from a ball dropped by Alfie Barbeary directly from the resumption. ‘King Henry’ added the extras easing Chiefs into a slender 7-5 lead.
Undaunted Bath fought back moving play into a maul just inside Chiefs half. A barnstorming run from Ted Hill striding out with amazing pace Bath’s No had the legs to outpace our defence to score under the posts. Despite the howling advantage at their backs and Bath’s 10-minute spell with 14 men, Chiefs trailed 12-7 at the break.
With a determined Bath and the eyes of storm Kathleen to face in the second 40 a tough uphill struggle faced Chiefs young guns.
We always knew this was going to be a big game, but just how big time will tell. To a man, Chiefs held their nerve giving us a glimpse of the character and traditions of which Exeter is famed.
Bottom line, the Chiefs found a way to handle the pressure to win a big game, on a big day in the development of the class of 2024.
Saracens, Leicester, and Bath losses gives them two weeks to prepare for the run into the Premiership play-off semi-finals. Being in the mix to contest for trophies is where
Chiefs want to be, but in this topsy turvey season competing for both national and European honours make huge demands on our playing squad.
It’s off to France for Chiefs and Quins and visitors from halfway across the world for Northampton. Just maybe our rugby fathers can plan something better than a 54-day Premiership lay off, followed by the pressure cooker intensity facing our top clubs at the end of the season!
I leave you, dear reader, to make of that what you will.
On the local front, Plymouth Albion scored a creditable 28-21 win against title chasing Rams at the Brickfields and in essence gifting National One to my old teammate Nick Easter’s Chinnor.
Meanwhile, Taunton’s 41-17 away win in Manchester keeps their flame of league survival alive.
With just two League One games to play, Titans face Cinderford in a must win home game on Saturday.
With Chiefs in France, Veritas Park might just be a good call to support Tony Yapps Taunton Titans.
Written off as a team in ‘transition’ at the start of the season Chiefs young guns journey continues in France to face where they face Dupont and Ntamack’s mighty Toulouse who have not lost at home for two seasons. No pressure there then!
Come the day, come the heroes! Come on you Chiefs! Don’t you just love this club! Until next time, enjoy your rugby and stay safe