Forward power gets Chiefs home semi-final

EXETER had effectively ensured their home clash with Harlequins in February’s semi-finals inside 31 minutes when prop Harry Williams drove over for the bonuspoint try.

Forwards coach Rob Hunter said: “The aim was to get the home semifinal but it’s a long way off so we’ll forget aout it for a little while.”

Harlequins will also be the visitors for next Saturday’s first Premiership match and Hunter said: “There’s still bits and bobs to work on, but we’re happy – no injuries.”

Bristol, with an eye on the six-day turn-around to next Friday’s sell-out Premiership clash with Bath, made 13 changes from the side which beat London Irish – and it showed as they struggled to suppress the pack-powered Chiefs.

But director of rugby Pat Lam declared himself pleased with the buildup. “No injuries,” he said, “we’ve worked well as a squad and had seven Academy boys out there.

“We knew what to expect. Coming here you have to be disciplined and we were in the battle physically but lacked a bit of control.”

There were only 105 seconds on the clock when Exeter lock Jonny Hill ran in from 30 metres after taking an inside pass from Olly Woodburn.

Bristol responded four minutes later when Ian Madigan’s pinpoint crossfield kick found Jack Bates who collected and dived over in the left corner.

The forwards did all the hard work for Exeter’s second try, mounting multiple drives before scrum-half Jack Maunder spotted the gap and squeezed in.

Sam Simmonds was held up over the Bristol line following another sustained forward assault but the Chiefs resumed the offensive before the No.8 drove in and, with brother Joe’s third conversion, Exeter led 21-5.

Full-back Max Bodilly handed Bristol a lifeline try when his kick was charged down by opposite number Tom Pincus.

But the Bears could not keep the relentless Exeter forwards at bay and Williams secured the bonus point.

A tedious spell of aerial ping-pong, which achieved little for either side, saw the tempo slow for the opening 20 minutes of the second half before a quick tap penalty by Jack Yeandle put Bristol under the cosh again before the industrious Dave Dennis drove over. Bristol responded with a try from lively England U20 hooker Will Capon – on as a replacement – following a lineout.