Exeter class tells in the end as Pirates battle on

AN OMINOUS opening of two scrum batterings led to Carl Rimmer crashing over in just the third minute for Exeter.

However, Pirates responded to dominate the first quarter and took the lead through a Lawrence May penalty and an Alex Cheeseman try, following a welldrilled lineout drive.

Chiefs then took control with two close range tries from Toby Salmon and Greg Holmes, converted by Joe Simmonds for a 21-8 half-time lead.

Pirates hadn’t been able to take advantage of Matt Kvesic’s, absence, sin-binned for not rolling away, and when the debutant returned, Exeter made it count.

Elvis Taione emphasised his side’s clinical finishing to score Exeter’s fourth but Chiefs’ threequarters failed to impress in ideal playing conditions until the last quarter.

Well-timed passing saw Chiefs break out from inside their own 22 before a strong run sent Sal M’Boge over for the game’s best try.

Jack Innard scored Chiefs’ sixth before Pirates’ spirit was rewarded with an excellent try from Alex O’Meara – but a touchdown from James Freeman gave Exeter the final say.

Pirates coach Gavin Cattle said: “It is all about character and keeping going and our boys certainly didn’t stop.

“It was a really good game for us in terms of a measuring stick and we learned some good defensive lessons.”