Braves 69 Wasps 12

Exeter Braves 69

London Wasps 12

Mark Stevens at Sandy Park

For the second time in two days, London Wasps headed home from Sandy Park nursing defeat at the hands of Exeter.

Unlike Saturday when they were narrowly overcome 30-26 by the Chiefs in the Aviva Premiership, the visitors were this time on the end of a ten-try beating from a powerful Braves line-up.

Rob Langley, Fetu'u Vainikolo (2), Todd Lowry, Tom Hendrickson, Jack Arnott, Sam Blanchet (2) and Ceri Sweeney (2) all crossed for tries, whilst the remainder of the points were shared out by Sweeney and team-mate Henry Slade.

Wasps countered with tries from Jack Moates and Tommy Spinks, the first of which was converted by Joe Carlisle, but that was scant reward for them on a tough night in Devon.

Defeated by Saracens in their opening fixture of the Southern Group, the Braves were looking for an immediate riposte against the visiting Londoners.

Certainly the selection ahead of kick-off underlined that desire as they named four full internationals within their ranks, including the 'Flying Fijian' Sireli Naqelevuki, who was making his first appearance of the new season.

With such an array of talent on show, it did not take the Braves long to open their account as flanker Langley was the first to cross, finishing off a strong run from full-back Jack Arnott.

Slade converted the opening score before then slotting a penalty just five minutes later as Wasps struggled to contain the Braves pack as they looked to punch their way in behind enemy lines.

It was the ideal start for the home side who, on 15 minutes, extended their lead yet further when Tongan international Vainikolo brushed aside the attentions of Alex Harrison before turning on the gas and powering his way through for a second converted try.

Somewhat shell-shocked by the early Exeter onslaught, Wasps looked for a response of some sorts. And it came when following a sustained spell of pressure, lock Adam Peters ran a lovely line through the heart of the home rearguard only to be felled by an excellent tackle from Arnott. However, the onrushing Moates was on hand to collect the offload and he dashed across for the try, which summer signing Carlisle converted.

That would, however, be the only bright spot for the visitors in a one-sided first period.

At the other end, Exeter's superior power and pace was paying dividends as they added two more scores before the half was up. First over was skipper and Welsh international Sweeney, who was able to round off a slick handling move in the right-hand corner; then Academy youngster Lowry was the beneficiary of some grunt work by his fellow forwards as he went over from five metres for Slade to convert.

HALF TIME EXETER BRAVES 29 LONDON WASPS 7

After the break and the Braves were quickly into their stride as Truro College product Hendrickson claimed try number five, charging down an intended clearance before gobbling up the loose ball and just about squeezing his way over in the corner.

Wasps countered with their second try of the night when they capitalised - through Spinks - on a home mistake. However, that was no more than a consolation score as the Braves proved too hot to handle.

Sweeney - who would end the night with 20 points - claimed his first try when he cut a path right through the Wasps midfield to score under the posts and convert; then full-back Arnott was the next over when he finished off from close range after the imposing Will Carrick-Smith had been held up by at least three opponents just short of the line.

The one-way traffic continued aplenty as Blanchet was next to get himself on the scoresheet, thundering through in an almost carbon-copy move from that which had seen Sweeney cross.

Tom Howe briefly threatened for Wasps with a blistering run down the right flank, but with little support on hand his offload just yards from the line fell to no one and the chance was lost.

Exeter duly made them pay as in the final ten minutes, Vainikolo snuck over for his second of the night; quickly followed by the industrious Blanchet who charged through with the final play of the game. Both scores were converted by the impressive Sweeney to wrap up a decent night's work for the Braves.

Braves: J Arnott; F Vainikolo, S Naqelevuki (T Hendrickson 30), C Sweeney (capt), M Jess; H Slade (S Blanchet h/t), W Chudley; A Brown (K Davies 60), A Spurdle (J Innard 39), C Rimmer (C Mitchell, A Brown 63); J Phillips, W Carrick-Smith; R Langley (M Bolwell 57), T Lowry, K Horstmann

Tries - Langley, Vainikolo (2), Sweeney (2), Lowry, Hendrickson, Arnott, Blanchet (2); Conversions - Slade (3), Sweeney (5); Penalty - Slade

Wasps: A Harrison; T Howe, E Seveali'i, P Mackey, L O'Neill; J Carlisle (L Clayton-Molloy h/t), J Moates; R Reeves, N Morris, T Vea (T Francis 65); E Lozada (capt, R Davies 18), A Peters; O Hirskyj-Douglas, T Spinks, N Hughes (A Lundberg.

Try - Moates, Spinks; Conversion - Carlisle

Referee: T Foley

Attendance: 811