Chiefs go surging along with their prop power
EXETER’S dominant pack put them firmly in control as Bath, struggling to contain the raw power of international props Greg Holmes and Moray Low, conceded ten firsthalf penalties.
It took a massive defensive display to stop the Chiefs from cashing in fully on the absolute dominance of former Wallaby Holmes and ex-Scotland front-rower Low as the visitors limited Exeter to a four-point interval lead.
“It was an outstanding performance of playing into the wind and of how to control the game,” said Exeter head coach Ricky Pellow while Bath general manager Stuart Hooper admitted: “The penalty count in the first half was too high.”
For once the strong wind appeared to favour no-one with Hooper adding: “I thought we played better into it.”
The wholesale substitutions around the hour mark threatened to change the outcome, with the introduction of Samoa scrum-half Kahn Fotuali’i, England flanker Sam Underhill and centre Max Clark giving Bath increased attacking intensity while replacement props Will Vaughan and Anthony Perenise captured the front row initiative against Exeter’s rookie props Billy Keast and Marcus Street.
But Bath’s hopes of turning their added intensity into a late victory foundered as they paid for some crucial mistakes.
Flying out of the blocks, Bath had only a fourth minute Alex Davies penalty to show for their early attacking flourish before the Chiefs settled into their forward-dominated rhythm.
Conceding four penalties in quick succession at the breakdown put the visitors under huge pressure as Exeter took the lineout option but they survived the multi-phased forward assault with one set containing 35 drives.
Bath finally cracked when Exeter, choosing to pack down again following a scrum penalty, whipped the ball wide before Harvey Skinner’s long pass sent James Short over.
The penalty count proved insurmountable and it cost Bath big-time when prop Luca Noguera was sinbinned in the 32nd minute.
Within a minute the Chiefs capitalised as Ollie Devoto took a short pass from Skinner and found the defensive gap to cross with Joe Simmonds converting.
Bath responded by serving Exeter a taste of their own medicine. A penalty into the corner and lineout catch and drive ended with Scotland hooker Ross Batty diving in for their opening try.
Yet another Bath scrum offence saw Simmonds extend Exeter’s lead to 15-8 before their dominant setpiece provided the foundation to move the ball along the line and send Tom O’Flaherty racing in with Simmonds converting from the right touchline.
Bath responded with Jack Wilson squeezing in for an acrobatic try in the right corner after taking a slick short pass from fullback Darren Atkins.
The visitors piled on the pressure as Exeter were forced to play the final eight minutes with 14 men after lock Wilhelm van der Sluys was yellow-carded for offside and Wilson cut the deficit to four points with his second try.
But Bath’s hopes of mounting another quick attack were thwarted when Exeter replacement lock Onehunga Kaufusi charged down Fotuali’i’s clearance and when Bath were caught offside in front of their posts Harvey Skinner restored the seven-point lead.