Chiefs 40 Gloucester 39

Exeter Chiefs 40

Gloucester     39

Mark Stevens at Sandy Park

Richard Baxter brought the curtain down on his illustrious career with the Exeter Chiefs by playing a leading role in his side's final-day Aviva Premiership victory over Gloucester.

After 16 stand-out years at the Devon club, the all-action forward said his goodbyes with not only one last hurrah in the black jersey, but by also helping steer the Chiefs into the Heineken Cup again next season.

In a pulsating encounter at a packed Sandy Park, the Chiefs notched up their 12th league win of the campaign to ensure them of a crucial top six finish.

A penalty try, plus further touchdowns from locks Dean Mumm and Damian Welch paved the way for the home side, whose remainder of points came from the laser-guided boot of fly-half Gareth Steenson.

In reply, Nigel Davies' side helped themselves to five tries in total through Jonny May, Charlie Sharples, Henry Trinder, Rob Cook and Freddie Burns, the latter of whom also weighed in with four conversions and two penalties.

However, it was Steenson's last-minute penalty that proved the key difference in an absorbing match.

Unchanged from the side that convincingly saw off London Wasps in their penultimate fixture, the Chiefs wasted little time in spelling out their attacking intent against the visiting Cherry & Whites.

Just six minutes had elapsed when the home side made their first breakthrough. Attacking down the left at pace, the Chiefs whipped the ball back across the pitch at pace through their back to division to Jason Shoemark, whose simple offload allowed Aussie lock Dean Mumm (pictured) to crash over for his second try of the campaign.

Fly-half Steenson slotted the testing touchline conversion, before then adding a penalty just moments later after Haydn Thomas' intended pass out was deliberately blocked off by Burns.

It was a vintage start from the Chiefs, but things would get even better for them as they stretched their lead with a second try on 14 minutes. More good handling created the opening for Welch to continue his rich vein of scoring when he burrowed his way over, even though referee Greg Garner wanted further clarification from TMO official Geoff Warren.

This time Steenson was unable to convert from wide out, but he atoned just minutes later when he slotted a second penalty from in front of the visiting posts.

Seemingly in cruise control, the home side then appeared to implode as three tries in the space of 10 minutes allowed Gloucester to come storming back and claim the lead of an
absorbing contest.

First over was winger May, who was able to speed down the left following a counter-attack led by Robson; then turnover ball on halfway allowed Burns and Loa Lokotui to create the opening for fellow flyer Sharples to run in under the sticks unopposed.

With the home faithful somewhat shell-shocked, the Chiefs were dealt another blow just past the half-hour mark when Gloucester claimed another gift-wrapped score. This time a picked-off James Scaysbrook pass allowed Trinder to intercept and run half the field before dotting down under the sticks. Burns converted to give him seven points for the half.

The Chiefs were clearly wounded, but to their credit they regathered themselves well and in a strong conclusion to the half, they restored their lead with the last play of the half.

A succession of scrums were clearly causing problems for the visitors - and as they buckled under mounting pressure - so referee Garner had enough, awarding a penalty try that
Steenson converted.

HALF TIME  EXETER CHIEFS 25 GLOUCESTER 22

Sharples departed during the half-time break to be replaced by Shane Monahan, but the Irishman's first involvement was to watch on as Steenson slotted a third successful penalty for the hosts just two minutes after the restart.

Although it was a slender buffer compared to earlier in the contest, the Chiefs were continuing to go after the game with great gusto. A superb break out of defence from the oustanding Luke Arscott saw the Gloucester defence scramble at pace and with little bodies to protect Rob Cook who had collected, the mass of onrushing Chiefs created the penalty from which Steenson was able to strike once more.

Steenson's metronomic boot extended Exeter's hold on the game with a fourth penalty only for the visitors to hit back once more with their fourth try of the game.

Using their imposing pack to punch their way into Exeter's 22, the visitors exploited a numbers advantage in the Chiefs back line to send former Cornish Pirates full-back Cook racing
over behind the posts.

Burns slotted the conversion and then a penalty for the visitors as it turned into a two-point game with just 20 minutes remaining.

Both sides brought on fresh stock as the toils of a hard day's work in a burning sun began to tell. However, it was the Chiefs who were able to dig deep sufficiently enough to win
another penalty which Steenson duly stroked over with aplomb.

It was end-to-end stuff as Gloucester responded themselves, this time refusing a kickable penalty in favour of a line-out move in the corner. The first attempt was thwarted by the Chiefs, but having won a scrum from the second attempt which was wayward, they failed to capitalise.

Instead Exeter replacement Craig Mitchell was penalised for dropping the scrum, allowing Burns to kick for the corner again. This time the visitors made no mistake, working the opening for Burns to sneak over in the corner for a fifth try, which he converted from wide out to give the visitors the lead once more.

With news coming through that Saracens had overcome Bath at Allianz Park, thus meaning Heineken Cup rugby would be returning to the Westcountry next season, head coach Baxter took the opportunity to give his younger sibling the opportunity to depart to a standing ovation around Sandy Park. After 16 years' service, the long-serving No.8 was bowing out with 431 games in the bag and 126 tries to his name.

However, it simply wouldn't have been right for Exeter's most favourite son to bow out on a losing note. His on-field colleagues knew as much and in one last throw of the dice, they tore down field to win themselves another shot at goal.

Just inside the Gloucester half, Steenson weighed up a testing punt which, although on target, did not have enough legs to creep over the bar. Collecting the kick, Billy Twelvetrees attempted to clear Gloucester's lines, but he only managed to screw his kick back into the waiting arms of the Irishman, who ran the ball back with interest. A series of phases followed from the Chiefs, one of which allowed the Dungannon-born back another shot at the target. This time Steenson stepped forward again, drilling the ball between the sticks.

All that remained was 20 seconds and having fielded the ball, the Chiefs cleverly closed out the game, sparking scenes of wild jubilation amongst the capacity crowd.

For Baxter it was the perfect send-off, whilst for the Chiefs he leaves behind, already they can look forward to competing amongst Europe's elite again next season.

Chiefs: L Arscott; J Nowell, P Dollman (I Whitten 61), J Shoemark, M Jess; G Steenson, H Thomas (W Chudley 66); B Sturgess (C Rimmer 59), J Yeandle (C Whitehead 61), H Tui (C Mitchell 64); D Mumm, D Welch; B White (D Ewers 52), J Scaysbrook, R Baxter (capt, A Muldowney 76). Replacement (not used): H Slade

Tries - Mumm, Welch, Penalty Try; Conversions - Steenson (2); Penalties - Steenson (6)

Gloucester: R Cook; C Sharples (S Monahan h/t, M Tindall 74), H Trinder, B Twelvetrees, J May; F Burns, D Robson (D Lewis  62); N Wood (D Murphy 58), K Britton (D Dawidiuk 44), S Knight (D Christolini 63); T Savage (capt), L Lokotui; S Kalamafoni (P Buxton 14), A Qera (A Hazell 58), B Morgan.

Tries - May, Sharples, Trinder, Cook, Burns; Conversions - Burns (4); Penalties - Burns (2)

Referee: G Garner

Touch Judges: P Burton & P Huckle

4th Official: D Rose

Attendance: 10,744