Blues 13 Chiefs 19

Cardiff Blues 13

Exeter Chiefs 19

Mark Stevens at the Cardiff Arms Park

Exeter Chiefs will no doubt have more memorable away days in Europe, but for now they will toast this latest victory with a glowing sense of satisfaction.

Having kicked off their Heineken Cup campaign with victory over Cardiff Blues, they ended this latest instalment with a similar outcome against the proud Welsh region.

Don Armand’s first half try, together with 14 points from the boot of skipper Gareth Steenson, not only gave the Chiefs the perfect send off in what could be their final outing in the Heineken Cup in its present form, but it also gave them a much-needed victory tonic after a gruelling run of fixtures.

The Blues countered with a try of their own through Alex Cuthbert and eight points from fellow Welsh and British Lions team-mate Leigh Halfpenny, but it was not enough to sink Rob Baxter’s men. They will have to wait at least 24 hours to see if their European escapades extend for a little longer in the Amlin Challenge Cup, but for now the moment belongs to the men from Devon.

True to his word following their narrow European defeat to Glasgow Warriors last time out, Baxter again re-jigged his line-up for the visit to the Welsh capital. Changes up front saw Jack Yeandle, Don Armand, Dave Ewers and Ben White all added; whilst behind Steenson’s inclusion meant Henry Slade was switched into the midfield alongside Sam Hill, both of whom were this week included in the England Saxons squad alongside Ewers and Dave Lewis.

The Blues, meanwhile, were also able to parade a powerful line-up headed up by British & Irish Lions duo Halfpenny and Cuthbert. They made three changes to the side that were soundly beaten by Pool Two leaders RC Toulon in Nice. Skipper Sam Hobbs came into the front-row, Ellis Jenkins did likewise in the back-row, whilst behind there was a start in the centre for Daffyd Hewitt.

Despite the changes in both camps, it was the Chiefs - just as they did in the corresponding fixture at Sandy Park back in October - that started like a freight train. From the outset the visitors tore into their rivals with an attacking wave that was as fast flowing as the nearby River Taff. The Blues did well to initially repel the Exeter raids, but another significant thrust put the Chiefs to within inches of the line, the result of which saw Armand go over from close range.

Steenson slotted the resultant conversion before adding a penalty moments later when the Welsh region were pulled up by Irish referee John Lacey for handling on the floor just metres inside their own half.

It was the dream start for the Chiefs and just what they had craved after a testing few weeks in both domestic and European battle for the Devon club. Chances continued to come and go for Baxter’s side as they looked to press home a clear ascendancy up front, but finally their endeavours were again rewarded when Steenson slotted a second penalty of the game from wide on the right touchline.

With the Chiefs cruising along nicely, they looked to add to their tally yet further. However, they failed to make the most of a golden opportunity on 25 minutes when, having turned over a Cardiff scrum on their own try-line, they were then penalised from the resultant set-piece when lively No.8 Kai Horstmann was adjudged to have held on with the line just a yard or so away.

The Blues duly made the most of the let-off as they then capitalised on a mistake from Matt Jess as he looked to run back a Cardiff punt down field. Having been felled as he looked to break clear, referee Lacey deemed the Chiefs flyer had failed to release the ball and awarded the penalty. The Blues initially went quick only to be thwarted, but Lacey said the visitors had failed to retreat sufficiently and this time Halfpenny stepped forward to stroke over his first shot at the target.

The score ignited not only the Blues faithful from their slumber on the terraces, but also the home players themselves as it was the Welshmen who finished the first half on the front foot.

And with just a few minutes to go until the half-time pep talk, the Blues raised the roof with a stunning score from Cuthbert. Last season’s top try-scorer in the Six Nations underlined his credentials ahead of the new campaign as he put the gloss on a slick Cardiff attack that ripped right through the heart of the Exeter rearguard. Halfpenny obliged with the extras to leave just three points between the two clubs at the interval.

HALF TIME        CARDIFF BLUES 10        EXETER CHIEFS 13

After a hugely entertaining Part One to the show, the early exchanges of Part Two were restricted to an initial game of kick tennis between Messrs Halfpenny, Steenson and Luke Arscott as the battle to gain early territory intensified. The Chiefs held the initial edge as they again positioned themselves deep inside the Blues half, but just as they were again poised to strike, either a spilled pass, knock-on or an unnecessary infringement would hamper their cause.

Just as they had done in the first half, the Blues made the most of Exeter’s profligancy as they again hit back to level the scores on 53 minutes. Using a line-out drill to work their way down field, Halfpenny made the visitors pay once more when they were held to account for pulling down a driving maul midway inside their own half.

Parity, though, lasted just two minutes as back came the Chiefs. With a scrum of their own deep inside the Cardiff half, the Exeter eight came together as one to produce an almighty shove that had their counterparts splintering at the seams. Official Lacey had no option to blow for the penalty and Steenson did the rest as he drilled the ball between the posts to nudge his team back in front.

Yet another bout of ‘kick tennis’ ensued before the first wave of replacements were introduced into the fray. Baxter sent on experienced stars Tom Johnson and Jason Shoemark for White and Hill, but Shoemark’s involvement lasted just two minutes as the Kiwi centre departed stage left following a heavy collision on the far side.

Whilst a disappointed Shoemark trudged around the outside of the 4G surface to be replaced by former Blues’ favourite Ceri Sweeney, Halfpenny saw his 100 per cent kicking record fall to the sword as he pushed an effort from near halfway wide of the left post.

The Chiefs were hanging on by the skin of their teeth as the Blues sensed the opportunity to snatch a late victory. The home cause was helped along the way as first referee Lacey somehow adjudged another monstrous scrum from the visitors had been wheeled around, this despite the Welshmen being shunted back at pace some six metres; then scrum-half Lewis was dispatched to the sin-bin for the remainder of the game for a professional foul as he cynically thwarted a home attack.

Lewis’ indiscretion not only reduced the Chiefs to 14 men for the remainder of the game, but also allowed the home side the opportunity to land a telling blow. With Halfpenny down with an ankle injury, up stepped Gareth Davies to go for goal. However, his kick failed to hit the mark and Exeter were able to breath a huge sigh of relief.

With the threat repelled, the rain-sodded Chiefs shunted themselves back up field, earned a scrum from which they were able to split the home pack into four quarters. Lacey duly awarded the penalty and up stepped the reliable Steenson to hammer the final nail into the coffin.

Time up on the clock, Gareth Davies’ restart did little more than offer the Chiefs the chance to gobble up the loose ball, before it was worked back to Arscott, who dispatched a booming right foot kick into Row Z.

It sparked jubilant scenes of celebration both on the pitch and in the terraces for all those wearing Chiefs colours. Europe may be over for another year, but the seasonal journey continues aplenty for the men from the Wild Westcountry.

Blues: L Halfpenny; A Cuthbert, G Evans, D Hewitt, C Czekaj (D Fish 59); G Davies, L Williams (L Jones 63); S Hobbs (capt), K Dacey, B Bourrust; C Dicomidis, F Paulo; M Cook, E Jenkins (R Watts-Jones 63), R Copeland. Replacements: M Breeze, T Davies, S Andrews, J Down, R Smith.

Try - Cuthbert; Conversion - Halfpenny; Penalties - Halfpenny (2)

Chiefs: L Arscott; F Vainikolo (W Chudley 73), S Hill (J Shoemark 63, C Sweeney 66), H Slade, M Jess; G Steenson (capt), D Lewis; C Rimmer (L Cowan-Dickie 73), J Yeandle, A Brown; D Armand, D Welch; D Ewers, B White (T Johnson 63), K Horstmann. Replacements: G Bateman, L Fairbrother, J Phillips.

Try - Armand; Conversion - Steenson; Penalties - Steenson (4)

Yellow Card: Lewis

Referee: J Lacey (IRFU)

Attendance: 12,125

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Ospreys (H), LV= Cup, Saturday, January 25 (3pm)