Chiefs 12 Sharks 55

Exeter Chiefs 12

Sale Sharks 55

Mark Stevens at Sandy Park

Those of a nervous disposition best look away now……as the following doesn’t make for happy reading if you follow the fortunes of Exeter Chiefs.

Rob Baxter’s side suffered a humiliating, record Aviva Premiership defeat as visiting Sale Sharks made hay in the Devon sunshine to ensure they will be among those contesting next season’s new-look European Champions Cup.

The Northerners head home with not only lucrative thoughts of tackling Europe’s elite next term, but also an impressive five-point haul as the ran in eight tries on their way to a 55-12 success at Sandy Park.

Michael Paterson, Tom Arscott, Sam Tuitupou (2), Dwayne Peel, Dave Seymour, Tom Brady and Andrei Ostrikov all crossed for the hungry Sharks, whilst the remainder of their points were shared out by the respective boots of Danny Cipriani and Joe Ford.

For the Chiefs, tries from Fetu’u Vainikolo and Carl Rimmer were the momentary highlights in a disappointing display that left many of the local natives wondering just what had struck their team on such an important day.

Of course the Chiefs have the chance to rectify their own European ambitions in their final two games against Harlequins (home) and Newcastle Falcons (away), but serious questions will be asked when the viewing of this video nasty takes place throughout next week.

Initially the signs looked good for the Chiefs, who were forced to make a late reshuffle to their side when skipper Dean Mumm failed a fitness test on his shoulder earlier in the day,

The absence of the Aussie meant a first Premiership start for James Phillips since September 2012 against Saracens, whilst the only other change to the side that saw off Worcester seven days earlier was the recall of Ben White to the Exeter back-row.

In the opening exchanges the home side sounded out their attacking intent when full-back Phil Dollman shot down the left flank only to be felled by a clutch of Sale defenders as he looked to close in on the visiting line.

With the threat repelled, it was Sale who stole down the other end of the field to create an opening for Brady, who crucially knocked on just yards from the line after the Sharks had set-up camp deep inside the Exeter 22.

Brady’s chance may have been a left off for the home side, but there was to be not stopping the Sharks just two minutes later when lock Paterson brushed aside the attentions of both Damian Welch and Jack Yeandle before steamrollering Gareth Steenson to claim the opening score, which Cipriani converted with aplomb from wide on the right.

It was an early setback for Baxter’s men who, up against the wind in the first period, did their best to fashion a response of sorts. Sadly they could not come up with answers as handling errors, poor decision-making and some robust work from the Sharks around the breakdown area curtailed their hopes.

The Sharks were clearly happy to feed off the scraps and two tries in as many minutes gave them the perfect breathing space for them to push on.

Full-back Arscott – the younger brother of our very own Luke Arscott – went over for the first of those scores, quickly followed by fellow back Tuitupou, who applied the finish to a slick move that involved Jonny Leota, Seymour and Cipriani, who also added the extras to make it 19-0.

Somewhat shell-shocked the Chiefs needed to find a way back into the contest and as the half drew towards a close they were rewarded when Tongan ace Vainikolo ran a lovely line to collect a pass from Dollman and race in under the sticks for Steenson to convert

The score was just what the doctor ordered for the Chiefs as they headed into the break with at least a little spring in their step.

HALF TIME EXETER CHIEFS 7 SALE SHARKS 19

Again looking for a quick response on the resumption, the Chiefs started the half with the bit between their teeth. No.8 Kai Horstmann led the charge with a break down the right that allowed Dollman to chip over the top, but as the Welshman and Ian Whitten closed in on the loose ball, former England star Cipriani came across to cover the danger and the chance was lost.

The Chiefs continued to push forward as the minutes ticked by, but still their hopes of hauling themselves back into the game were being hampered by some uncharacteristic elements to their play.

Another Tuitupou try on 56 minutes not only gave the former All Blacks star his second score of the game, but it also gave the Sharks the all-important bonus point just before the hour mark as he was again able to pick an easy route through the heart of the home midfield.

Cipriani converted that score and Sale’s fifth which arrived on 63 minutes when Welsh international Peel got in on the scoring act when he applied the simple finish after Seymour had nicked the ball from a Chiefs scrum.

Bad turned to worse as the impressive Seymour administered further misery to the home cause when he trundled his way over without too much opposition for yet another converted score.

Already sections of the home crowd were heading for the exit doors – soon to be followed by many more as replacement Ford stroked over a sublime drop-goal to make it 43-7 with just ten minutes remaining.

With little more than pride to play for, the Chiefs – who handed a Premiership debut to Will Carrick-Smith in the second half – valiantly combined to send prop Rimmer over for his first-ever Exeter try.

However, it was all a little too late as the misery was compounded in the final minute for the Chiefs when imposing Russian Ostrikov hammered in the final nail with an eighth try that Ford duly converted.

The disappointment and frustration on the face of Baxter was clear to see at the final whistle – and no doubt the Chiefs leader will already be dissecting the pieces of this performance in search of answers.

Chiefs: P Dollman (L Arscott 68); F Vainikolo, I Whitten, S Hill, M Jess; G Steenson (capt, H Slade 56)), D Lewis (H Thomas 49); B Moon (C Rimmer 58), J Yeandle (L Cowan-Dickie 48), A Brown (H Tui 48); J Phillips (W Carrick-Smith 58), D Welch; D Ewers, B White (J Scaysbrook 64), K Horstmann.

Tries - Vainikolo, Rimmer; Conversion - Steenson

Sharks: T Arscott; T Brady, J Leota, S Tuitupou (M Jennings 68), C Ingall; D Cipriani (J Ford 64), D Peel (W Cliff 68); E Lewis-Roberts (R Harrison 64), M Jones (T Taylor 64), V Cobillas (H Thomas 64); J Mills (M Easter 59), M Paterson; J Gaskell, D Seymour (capt), V Fahiki (A Ostrikov 48).

Tries - Paterson, Arscott, Tuitupou (2), Peel, Seymour, Brady, Ostrikov; Conversions - Cipriani (4), Ford (2); Drop-Goal - Ford

Referee: D Richards

Attendance: 9,467

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Harlequins (H), Aviva Premiership, Sunday, May 4 (2pm)