Chiefs cling on by Garnet’s fingertips
EXETER CHIEFS survived playing much of the second half with only 14 players to defeat Bristol for their fourth win of the season.
Exeter scrum-half Patricia Garcia was dismissed after half-time for sending wing Jasmine Joyce over the horizontal line with an uncontrolled tackle.
Joyce’s hat-trick looked to have given Bristol the win but Garnet Mackinder finished a sweeping move in the corner for Exeter, managing to ground the ball with her fingertips to hand Chiefs a derby day victory.
Chiefs applied early pressure when lock McKinley Hunt broke through the middle into the 22 and offloaded to Garcia, but she had the ball ripped out of her grasp by Joyce and the Bears recovered to avert the danger momentarily.
Possession remained with Exeter who won a penalty at the resulting scrum and No.8 Linde van der Velden took a quick tap-and-go to score, converted by Gabby Catorna. Bristol hit back through Joyce, whose turn of pace and quick feet saw her accelerate down the wing and draw the Bears level.
After Elinor Snowsill converted the extras, Joyce scored again with a nearidentical try gifted by a wayward pass by Catorna.
A stolen lineout by Exeter in their own half then saw the visitors march all the way downfield. Flanker Ebony Jefferies kept her patience to burst through under the posts to restore parity.
Snowsill kicked Bears back ahead from the tee on 23 minutes but Exeter responded with prop Laura Delgado crashing over following several phases.
Exeter scrum-half Garcia was dismissed with her side leading 19-17 but Joyce put Bears ahead with her hat-trick try.
Emily Tuttosi finished of a rolling maul for Chiefs and after a Snowsill penalty gave Bristol a one-point lead nearing the game’s end, wing Mackinder scored with only inches to work with in the left corner to rescue victory for Exeter.