Baxter's early present

By Mark Stevens

Rob Baxter was given an early birthday present as he watched his Exeter Chiefs side book a place in Sunday's LV= Cup Final with a first victory over Bath Rugby in 36 years.

Having gone 11 games without success since their promotion into the Premiership back in 2010, the Devon outfit finally shipped the monkey off their backs with a 22-19 triumph at the Recreation Ground.

Full-back Luke Arscott helped himself to a try in each half, whilst Tongan international Fetu'u Vainikolo (pictured) raced over for what proved a match-winning score just before the hour mark.

Young fly-half Henry Slade weighed in with the remainder of Exeter's points as they booked a final spot on home soil at Sandy Park against Northampton Saints.

Bath, as is the case in these Westcountry derbies, played their part and having taken an early lead through Leroy Houston's try after just 40 seconds, the remainder of their scoring came courtesy of the boot of Tom Heathcote.

Indeed, the Scottish international came within a whisker of sending the tie into extra-time with the last kick of the game, but crucially for Baxter and his Chiefs the long-range effort fell just short of the target.

Afterwards, Baxter - who will be 43 on Monday - hailed his team for digging deep and securing what was a hard-fought victory.

He said: "It's like anything, we're hugely pleased to be in the final because the LV= Cup has become a relatively big cup competition over the last few years and you look at the teams that win it, they tend to be teams going places and achieving things, which is fantastic for us.

"We obviously have an important week now to get ready for the final, but it's great that it will be at Sandy Park; it's great the sun is out and things are drying up because it suits the way we play.

"As for today, was I hugely impressed with how we played? I'll be honest, not really. As usual we did some very good things, yet at times we still made some silly mistakes.

"Right now the players are kind of enjoying the sadistic side of training we're doing with them because we are making them very accountable for their individual actions. And right up until that final whistle again today, we did a few silly things. James Scaysbrook running away with a ball in a three-point game is silly and some of the way we gave up the ball was also a little bit silly.

"Having said that, we are facing those things head on and we're getting on with them and we are improving. For a little while it's a hard way of doing things, but to say we are not going to hide within results and we're not going to hide within performances is how it is for us.

"We're not the type of team that's going to put arms round each other and say things are great if they're not. If there are things we need to improve, we will do that, but for now we'll enjoy this victory and then move on to the next game."

Indeed, next up for the Chiefs is the visit of the Saints, who like Bath have held the upper hand over Exeter in recent meetings.

Baxter is well aware of the threat they pose to his side, but says he is relishing the contest that is set to unfold.

"They're a very good side and very much like Bath in some ways," added Baxter. "We've had a couple of hum dingers against them over the years and it's not that long ago we played against them in a real tight contest at our place, so I'm sure it will be the same next weekend.

"I watched them yesterday [against Saracens] and I was very impressed with them. Next week, I believe, will be another good game of rugby as both sides can play a bit. However, we have to make sure we're spot on both individually and collectively.

"Again I can't fault the work-rate and the effort of our guys because at times today they had to show fantastic endeavour to stay in the game. They did that, however, and we got our rewards for it in the end.

"Obviously Luke scored two tries and Fetz had another out of virtually nothing. It's those sorts of moments that win you big games. As I said, our endeavour to work hard, play and win the game is what we want. It's what good sides do, they come to win games of rugby and to attack and score tries.

"Today wasn't our best performance against Bath, yet we've won the game so I don't know what the best formula is. For me, the important thing is we've won the game and now we have another big game to look forward to next week."