Chiefs 19 Harlequins 5

Exeter Chiefs 19

Harlequins 5

Mark Stevens at Sandy Park

Ceri Sweeney crowned his first-ever start in an Exeter Chiefs jersey by helping kick his new club to an opening round victory over holders Harlequins in this season's LV= Cup.

Signed in the summer from Cardiff Blues, the 33-year-old fly-half has had to play the waiting game to get his chance with the in-form Devon outfit - such has been the form of fellow playmakers Gareth Steenson and Henry Slade.

However, given his chance to shine in the Anglo-Welsh tournament, Sweeney provided the guiding hand as his 14-point haul helped give the Chiefs the dream start.

The former Welsh international slotted four penalties, as well as converting Sireli Naqelevuki's second half try, as Rob Baxter's side made it five wins in their last six games.

In reply, Harlequins countered with an early try from winger Paul Sackey, but that was their sole reward on a tough afternoon for them in the Westcountry.

With matters in the Premiership and Europe put on the back burner for the next fortnight, it was a new-look and refreshed Chiefs side that took to the field for this opening domestic cup encounter. Head coach Baxter and assistant Ali Hepher not only rested themselves for the afternoon, but so did the complete starting line-up from that which won at Sale Sharks in the league last time out.

Captain Sweeney (pictured) headed up a string of Chiefs making their first starts for the club - the Welshman was joined from the outset by Greg Bateman, Romana Graham and Don Armand in a powerful Exeter line-up that also included the likes of James Scaysbrook, James Hanks, Kai Horstmann, Naqelevuki and Luke Arscott.

Holders Harlequins were also able to parade a powerful looking team for their title defence, even though a number of their more established stars were either being rested, injured or away on international duties.

And among those on duty for the Londoners was former England winger Sackey, who took just five minutes to make his mark on proceedings as he broke the game's deadlock when he finished off a sharp Quins' attack by crossing in the right-hand corner.

Fly-half Botica, the son of former All Blacks great Frano, failed with the testing touchline conversion, before opposite number Sweeney got the Chiefs up and running within two minutes of that score when he slotted a penalty after Arscott and Will Chudley had combined to cause problems in the visiting defence.

The Chiefs were looking lively in attack and having threatened again with a series of raids, they finally got their noses in front on 16 minutes when Sweeney doubled his tally with a second penalty - given this time after the visitors had been pulled up by referee Dean Richards for dropping an Exeter maul just outside their own 22.

Although their lead was slender, the Devonians continued to push forward in numbers. However, numerous attacks were either thwarted by some stubborn defence from the visitors or - more often than not - unforced errors from the Chiefs themselves as they were either deemed to have held on in the tackle or knocked on whilst in possession.

At the other end, Harlequins underlined their attacking menace when a counter-attack saw Botica release the dangerous Charlie Walker at pace., but as the full-back side-stepped his way through the heart of the home midfield, he was eventually felled by a thumping - yet legal - hit by Arscott, whose efforts saved a certain score at the North End.

Having survived that threat, the Chiefs were soon back on the offensive and with three minutes to go before the end of the first period, they thought they had crossed the whitewash for their opening try of the day. The lively Jack Nowell linked cleverly with forwards Graham and Horstmann, but as the latter looked to have offloaded sweetly for Sweeney to score, referee Richards had seen a forward pass and immediately chalked off the Welshman's effort.

It summed up a frustrating first half for the Chiefs, who despite their dominance in both possession and territory, were unable to give themselves a healthy buffer.

HALF TIME EXETER CHIEFS 6 HARLEQUINS 5

On the resumption, the Chiefs were again quickly into their stride as they used their wrath of bulldozers - Messrs Graham, Horstmann and Naqelevuki - to get them over the gain line during the early exchanges.

It was an effective tactic as the Chiefs positioned themselves behind enemy lines, working the opening off a collapsed scrum to extend their lead courtesy of Sweeney's third penalty of the game.

The home side were bossing proceedings and having seen a fourth Sweeney sail wide of the mark, the former Welsh international atoned moments later when he added a fourth successful kick, this coming after Henry Slade had created no end of problems for the visitors with a dazzling right that saw him link well with Armand, only for the latter to slip when well placed.

Now with an appropriate buffer, the Chiefs began to flex their muscles. Using the power game, they once more punched their way towards the Quins' line, fashioning an opening for the 'Dinosaur' Naqelevuki to barge his way under the sticks for the score, which Sweeney duly converted to make it 19-5.

Harlequins were certainly reeling on the ropes following a heavy second half battering from the Chiefs, but now two converted tries behind they suddenly began to find their best form in attack.

Half-backs Karl Dickson and Botica were doing their best to find an opening, whilst Walker and Matt Hopper, the son of former Exeter player Tony Hopper, also added some much needed urgency to the visiting threat. The Chiefs, however, were determined to keep their line intact, producing a series of defensive sets that left the watching Baxter beaming with delight.

Such was the intensity of the Chiefs in defence, it was highlighted in full when - with just over ten minutes remaining - at least three home defenders put their bodies on the line to repel the Harlequins threat. In the end, Harlequins skipper Luke Wallace did not know what to do as his charge for the line ended up in him being sent sprawling into touch.

Indeed, the closest Harlequins came to threatening a second score in the half was when Sweeney saw an intended clearance charged down by lock George Merrick. Thankfully, the home skipper was able to do a quick 'about turn' and win the race to the loose ball before Merrick flopped on top of him preventing the Exeter playmaker from allowing the ball to be released.

Able to clear their lines, the Chiefs preceded back down field with aplomb before expertly closing out the contest.

Next up for them is Sunday's forthcoming trip to Bath, a venue where the senior Chiefs have yet to taste victory. However, produce a performance like this and that duck could well be broken in the famous Roman City.

 

Chiefs: L Arscott; J Nowell, S Naqelevuki (T Hendrickson 65), H Slade, J Arnott; C Sweeney (capt), W Chudley; B Moon, G Bateman, A Brown (C Rimmer 53); R Graham (J Phillips 62), J Hanks; D Armand, J Scaysbrook, K Horstmann. Replacements (not used): J Innard, K Davies, W Carrick-Smith, S Townsend, S Blanchet.

Try - Naqelevuki; Conversion - Sweeney; Penalties - Sweeney (4)

Harlequins: C Walker; P Sackey, T Molenaar, T Casson (M Hopper 59), S Smith; B Botica, K Dickson; M Lambert (D Marfo 72), D Ward (H Allen), W Collier (N Mayhew 61); G Merrick, C Matthews; J Trayfoot (J Chisholm 74), L Wallace (capt), J Clifford (T Guest 16). Replacements (not used):  S Stuart, L Grimoldby

Try - Sackey

Referee: D Richards

Attendance: 9,333

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Bath (A), Sunday, November 17 (1pm)