Chiefs 18 Irish 0

 

Exeter Chiefs 18

London Irish 0

By Mark Stevens

It's been a while, just under three months if we're really counting, but Exeter Chiefs rediscovered their winning formula in the Aviva Premiership with this impressive victory over visiting London Irish.

Not since December 21 when Newcastle Falcons were humbled 16-3 at Sandy Park have Devon's finest tasted success in English rugby's top tier.

Five consecutive defeats - including a recent hat-trick of losses against the division's top three - have seen Rob Baxter's side slowly slip down the pecking order to eighth spot coming into this contest.

However, the Chiefs were able to stop the rot as tries from centres Phil Dollman and Ian Whitten, plus eight points from the boot of fly-half Henry Slade, ensured a seventh leeague win of the season.

Irish did their best to contend with the home threat, but the nearest they came to claiming any kind of reward as a first half penalty from Aussie international James O'Connor, which sadly for him cannoned back off the left post.

Desperate for a much-needed victory tonic after a wretched run of top flights results, Baxter handed a first-ever Premiership start to young hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, whilst other changes to the side defeated at Saracens saw returns in the back division for both Tom James and Luke Arscott.

Like their hosts, Irish also suffered a loss last time out - they were narrowly undone at home to Leicester Tigers - and they made a handful of changes to their starting XV. Into the fray came speedsters Marland Yarde and Topsy Ojo; Shane Geraghty was switched to fly-half and O’Connor reverted from full-back to centre in a new-look backline.

Up front, Welsh international John Yapp was named at loosehead and a late change saw Leo Halavatau promoted from the bench following the warm-up to take over from the injured Jamie Hagan.

With personnel in place and the Chiefs up against a stiff breeze, the early exchanges were restricted to an arm-wrestle between the respective packs. However, it was the home side who were slowly beginning to take a grip on proceedings and the deadlock was finally broken on 10 minutes.

Irishman Whitten caused the initial damage as he searing break through the middle had Irish scrambling, but with Arscott in close attendance, he chose not to ship to his colleague and instead plough a furrow downfield. Although he was thwarted in his endeavours, the Chiefs quickly recycled at pace to the left, winning themselves a penalty that Slade was able to convert with aplomb.

At the other end, the lumbering figure of Halavatau spotted a gap following a ruck, he combined with Darren Allinson, but as the visitors look set to pounce, referee Matt Carley penalised them for holding on just yards from the home try-line.

The Chiefs made the most of the let-off and on 21 minutes they doubled their advantage through the boot of Slade. Cowan-Dickie's rampaging charge through the middle was followed up by front-row mate Ben Moon, who was himself halted just short of the line. The difference on this occasion was Irish blatantly denied the home side quick ball and prop Halavatau was dispatched to the sidelines for his cynical act.

Although up a man, Baxter's side could not add to their tally. Instead, they allowed Irish to position themselves down field and win a penalty of their own after Damian Welch was adjudged to have pulled down Yapp following a well-constructed maul from a line-out. The normally deadly O'Connor could not capitalise as his effort came back off the near post.

Further half chances came for both sides before the break as first Geraghty saw an intended clearance from Matt Jess just elude him in the race for the line, while a mix-up between Dollman and Jess at the other end saw them butcher a golden scoring opportunity for the Chiefs.

HALF TIME EXETER CHIEFS 6 LONDON IRISH 0

Now with the elements in their favour, the Chiefs regrouped for the second period determined to make their mark. From the outset they immediately tore into their rivals with Tom Johnson and Dave Ewers leading the charge.

Initial pressure down the left flank failed to bring reward, but when it was expertly shipped back inside to the other side of the park, Arscott collected the ball in midfield before simply popping the pass to Dollman, who did the rest with a simple finish that Slade was able to convert.

The score not only ignited the home faithful, but it visibly helped to lift part of the pressure that has been hovering over the heads of the Chiefs in recent weeks.

With a 13-point cushion, the Chiefs looked to press home their advantage yet further. However, their cause was not helped when they lost Ben White to the cooler following a dangerous tackle on Allinson.

Irish now had the numerical advantage and for a period of at least ten minutes or so, they looked to capitalise as a series of penalties allowed Brian Smith's side to position themselves behind enemy lines.

However, every time they look to pounce - either an error, a knock-on or some outstanding defence from the Chiefs - denied their scoring hopes.

Indeed, the more the Chiefs repelled the Irish threat, the more the home side seemed to grow in confidence. With parity eventually restored in the on-field numbers game, so Exeter were able to once again flex their muscles in attack.

Winning turnover ball on halfway, the home side cleverly worked the opening for a counter-attack that saw the ball moved to Whitten (pictured), whose chip-and-chase saw the Ulsterman reclaim the ball before producing a sublime finish for his third try in as many games.

Referee Carley momentarily went to the TV match official Geoff Warren for clarification on the grounding, but the various replays beamed out across the big screens merely confirmed the envitable for the Exiles.

Two tries in the bag and with just over ten minutes remaining, the Chiefs went in search of further reward and a potential bonus point. Irish, though, had other ideas and stubbornly they dug in deep to deny the attacking home waves.

Even when they lost Allinson to a yellow card late on for killing the ball, the Chiefs could not capitalise sufficiently to trouble the scorers.

In the end, the Chiefs - or Baxter for that matter - would not have been too worried. Instead, the four points and another tick in the wins column was enough to set-up Exeter for next weekend's crunch LV= Cup semi-final date with old rivals Bath Rugby.
Chiefs: L Arscott; M Jess (F Vainikolo 77), I Whitten, P Dollman, T James (F Vainikolo 24-24); H Slade (G Steenson 77), D Lewis (H Thomas 67); B Moon (C Rimmer 71), L Cowan-Dickie (G Bateman 67), H Tui (A Brown 65); D Mumm (capt), D Welch (D Armand 32-34, 67); T Johnson (K Horstmann 71), B White, D Ewers.

Tries - Dollman, Whitten; Conversion - Slade; Penalties - Slade (2)

Yellow Card: White

Irish: T Ojo; A Lewington, E Sheridan, J O’Connor, M Yarde; S Geraghty, D Allinson; J Yapp (M Parr 52), D Paice, L Halavatau (J Yapp 65); G Skivington (capt), N Rouse (I Gough 61); K Low (J Sinclair 52), B Cowan (M Mayhew 74), O Treviranus (M Parr 24-31, G Ellis 57). Replacements (not used): J Harris, I Humphreys, E Hoadley.

Yellow Cards: Halavatau, Allinson

Referee: M Carley

Attendance: 7,952

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Bath (A), LV= Cup semi-final, Sunday, March 9 (1pm)