Packed-out Sandy Park hails Chiefs’ table-toppers
Exeter .................... 34pts Tries: White 22, Turner 25, Yeandle 47, Holmes 78 Conversions: J Simmonds 22, 25, 47; Steenson 78 Penalties: J Simmonds 6, Steenson 72 Sale Sharks ........ 19pts Tries: McGuigan 9, 67; Ostrikov 35 Conversions: MacGinty 9
ANOTHER bonuspoint win ensured Exeter will top the Premiership table as they head into a home playoff semi-final.
“To celebrate that at a sold-out Sandy Park was pretty amazing,” said former Australia scrumhalf Nic White, who arrived last summer to bolster a squad which had just won their first Premiership title.
But Exeter forwards coach Rob Hunter said: “It’s really nice – but you don’t get anything for it. It will be great for this evening but then we’ve got to prep well again to meet a wounded Harlequins next week.”
Exeter had to battle all the way before finally overcoming the stiff resistance of a Sale side sparked by half-backs AJ MacGinty and Faf de Klerk.
In the end the Aussie effect shone through with White, fellow countrymen Lachie Turner and Greg Holmes scoring tries, with the sole English touchdown from skipper Jack Yeandle.
Exeter drew first blood. After Sharks No.8 Jono Ross knocked on, opposite number Sam Simmonds picked the ball off the back of the resulting scrum and made 30 metres.
When Sale strayed offside in front of their own posts, Simmonds’ brother Joe landed a simple penalty.
Sale hit back after Sam Simmonds spilled the ball, with their scrum providing the platform for McGinty to slot a precision kick to the corner for winger Byron McGuigan to win the touchdown chase against his former club.
With the Sharks scrum re-offending and Exeter opting for more setpieces, the Chiefs strategy enabled White to twist, turn and straighten to cross the line.
Three minutes later the Chiefs struck again when Sam Simmonds released Turner whose pace left opposite number Will Addison floundering as he raced 45 metres for a stunning try.
Sale responded with a score straight out of the Exeter catch-and-drive manual for lock Andrei Ostrikov, after pressure from McGuigan, forced Joe Simmonds to take the ball into touch five metres out.
Only White’s desperate finger-tip ankle tap on Sam James denied Sale a third try after Slade passed straight into the arms of the Sharks centre.
When the Sale scrum offended yet again, referee Dickson called skipper Ross up for a lecture. Joe Simmonds planted the penalty into the corner, Sam Simmonds claimed the lineout and Don Armand returned the ball for hooker Jack Yeandle to cross for Exeter’s third try.
Sale were denied their third when a superb cover tackle by Dave Ewers prevented livewire scrum-half Faf de Klerk from grounding the ball.
But, after the Sharks opted for a scrum rather than an easy penalty, de Klerk whipped out a long pass to McGuigan who dived round Santiago Cordero to squeeze in by the right corner flag for his 12th try of the season.
Replacement Gareth Steenson eased any Chiefs nerves by slotting a longrange penalty to increase the gap to eight points and Exeter’s pack secured the bonus point by driving Greg Holmes over two minutes from time.