Gloucester 12 Chiefs 29

 

Gloucester  12

Exeter Chiefs  29

Mark Stevens at Kingsholm

What a difference a week makes……..

Disappointing seven days earlier against Leicester Tigers, Exeter Chiefs produced the perfect response at Kingsholm to re-ignite their Aviva Premiership charge against hosts Gloucester.

In a sublime Sunday showing, Rob Baxter's side served up a season's best display to sink the Cherry & Whites on their own path.

Aussies Ben White and Dean Mumm - just as they had done at London Irish earlier in the campaign - again got on the try-sheet, whilst fly-half Gareth Steenson weighed in with the remainder of the points courtesy of his right boot.

Gloucester countered with tries from backs Martyn Thomas and Johnny May - the latter of which was converted by Freddie Burns - but it was mere consolation against a rampant Exeter side in which No.8 Dave Ewers again excelled.

After the Tigers loss, the Chiefs made four changes to their starting line-up for their latest top flight engagement. In the pack there were starts for both Chris Whitehead and White; whilst behind Dave Lewis came in at scrum-half for his first start against his former club and Matt Jess was recalled on the wing with Ian Whitten switching into the centre.

Likewise, the home side almost made a plethora of changes from their side which had won at Newcastle Falcons last time out. James Hudson made his Gloucester debut in the home pack alongside props Yann Thomas and Rupert Harden, who were both promoted from the bench. In the backs, Tavis Knoyle got the nod at scrum-half, while Mike Tindall and Martyn Thomas were also included from the outset in the home back division.

As expected the early engagement was restricted to the battle up front as the rival packs did their best to gain the early initiative. The Chiefs were more than happy to hold their own and following a sustained spell of pressure deep inside the home 22, they were rewarded with an early chance when home prop Rupert Harden went off his feet at a ruck.

Steenson stepped forward for the opening shot, but the normally lethal marksman fired his effort wide of the far post much to the delight of the home faithful.

As expected, Gloucester countered with an attack of their own - but the Chiefs manfully soaked up the home pressure before turning defence into attack once more. A decent Exeter raid down the left saw the ball shipped through the hands of Ian Whitten, Phil Dollman and Tom James, who despite being felled was unable to get the ball back due to some illegal activity from the Cherry & Whites.

Once again Steenson opted for the shot at the posts, but this time his testing kick from wide on the left flank cannoned back off the crossbar and into the waiting arms of home centre Billy Twelvetrees.

It was most unlike the Dungannon-born back to miss two successive kicks, but when he was afforded a third chance on 18 minutes when the Chiefs destroyed Gloucester at a scrum, this time he guided the ball between the sticks to give the visitors a slender lead.

Exeter's advantage, however, prove short-lived as within two minutes Gloucester gained the lead for the first time when full-back Martyn Thomas was able to pick a lovely line off a switch pass from Twelvetrees to cross fro the game's opening try.

The score highlighted the danger posed by the Gloucester backs, but the Chiefs made light of the setback and hit back strongly despite seeing another Steenson penalty fail to hit the target.

A mounting penalty count continued to hamper the home side and when Matt Kvesic was singled out for pulling back Exeter skipper Dean Mumm, the Chiefs this time opted for the more cut throat approach of going for the corner.

Although the initial raid was repelled by the Glos defence, Baxter's side worked the ball inside through a series of pick-and-go raids to claim another penalty, which Steenson duly landed to restore his side's lead.

The Chiefs were ruling the roost and they extended their lead on 33 minutes when a great burst through the middle from hooker Whitehead saw the Chiefs forwards recycle the ball at pace and White was able to burrow over from close range for his second try of the season, which Steenson duly converted following confirmation from TMO Rowan Kitt.

With the notorious 'Gloucester Shed' silenced by Exeter's attacking ambitions, the Chiefs came within a whisker of adding a second try just before the interval. First, Mumm was denied by a last-gasp saving tackle from home winger Charlie Sharples; then Hoani Tui's effort was adjudged just short of the line by Kitt, much to the derision of Baxter and his fellow coaches.

HALF TIME    GLOUCESTER 5    EXETER CHIEFS 13

The first half was certainly impressive from the Chiefs and they quickly picked up from where they left off as early endeavour and some strong running brought about quick rewards for the visitors.

Full-back Dollman offered the first threat when he tore down field following a slick handling move out of defence; then when the Chiefs pressed again - a high tackle on Hill from Tindall allowed Steenson to extend Exeter's advantage by a further three points.

Gloucester needed a response of sorts, but even when Tui was penalised for a short bind at scrum time, Burns was unable to capitalise - replicating a similar effort from Steenson in the first half - wide of the far post.

The home side were awakening, however, and as the Chiefs were forced into a momentary reshuffle following blood injuries to both James and Welch, the Devon visitors had to dig deep into their defensive reserves as Gloucester piled forward in numbers.

To a man, Baxter's braves stood firm and having absorbed all Gloucester could throw at them, they defiantly turned the screw on the home side with a brilliant counter-attack. Whitten, Mumm and Steenson were all involved in a slick backs move which cut open the home defence. With the home side struggling for numbers out wide, they were lucky to escape without penalty when it appeared Burns had deliberately knocked on with the visitors set to pounce.

Exeter again made light of their disappointment, regrouping sufficiently to instigate another wave of attacks which, this time round, was enough to send skipper Mumm over from ten metres out for his third converted try of the season.

With the natives clearly restless, Gloucester had to summon some kind of response to at least appease the apathy on the sidelines. To their credit, the home side did respond and when a series of drives allowed Nigel Davies' side to punch their way into the Exeter 22, quick hands involving Burns saw the England ace slip the ball to the onrushing May, who did the rest with a clinical finish by the posts.

Any hopes that converted score would trigger a home revival were soon doused, however, as the Chiefs ruthlessly closed out the final ten minutes of the contest.

Steenson banged over a third penalty following an almighty shove from the visiting pack; then he repeated the dose late on as a strong carry from man-of-the-match Ewers won the Chiefs another successful kick with just two minutes remaining.

In one last throw of the dice, Gloucester looked to salvage a semblance of pride with the final move of the game. However, having created a wonderful opening for replacement Elliott Stooke, the towering second row could not capitalise as he spilled the ball on the line.

For the Chiefs it was the perfect remedy following last Sunday's setback against the Tigers - and it was the ideal boost Baxter and his team needed ahead of their latest European adventure which begins at home to Cardiff Blues a week today.

Gloucester: M Thomas (J May 65); C Sharples, M Tindall, B Twelvetrees, J Simpson-Daniel; F Burns, T Knoyle (D Robson 54); Y Thomas (D Murphy 50), D Dawiduik (H Edmonds 65), R Harden (S Knight 37); T Savage (capt), E Stooke 57), J Hudson; S Kalamafoni, M Kvesic (G Evans 57), B Morgan (A Qera 57).

Tries - M Thomas, May; Conversion - Burns

Chiefs: P Dollman; M Jess, I Whitten, S Hill (H Slade 68), T James (F Vainikolo 50-54, 79); G Steenson, D Lewis (H Thomas 53); B Sturgess (B Moon 65), C Whitehead (J Yeandle 54), H Tui (C Rimmer 65); D Mumm (capt), D Welch (D Armand 50-53, 79); T Johnson, B White (K Horstmann 61), D Ewers.

Tries - White, Mumm; Conversions - Steenson (2); Penalties - Steenson (5)

Referee: M Carley

Attendance: 14,582

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Cardiff Blues (H), Heineken Cup, Sunday, October 13 (12.45pm)