Chiefs 36 Ospreys 22

Exeter Chiefs 36

Ospreys 22

Mark Stevens at Sandy Park

Exeter Chiefs kept alive their qualification hopes in this season's LV= Cup by seeing off visiting Ospreys in an entertaining, nine-try thriller at Sandy Park.

A week after overcoming Cardiff Blues in their final Heineken Cup game of the season, Rob Baxter's side again emerged victorious over Welsh opposition thanks to tries from Luke Cowan Dickie (2), James Scaysbrook, James Phillips and Don Armand.

Fly-half Ceri Sweeney weighed in with the remainder for the Chiefs, who now sit second in Pool Two, a point behind Sale Sharks, who themselves won at home to league rivals Worcester Warriors.

The Chiefs head to Sixways to tackle Worcester in their final pool game next Saturday, whilst the Sharks travel to the Ospreys who could at least console themselves with a losing bonus point thanks to tries from Daffyd Howells, Morgan Allen, Matthew Jenkins and Tom Grabham.

With Europe over for another year for the Chiefs, it was back to domestic cup action for Devon’s finest as they welcomed the Welsh region to Sandy Park for a third successive season. As expected, the home side took the options to utilise their squad to the max, offering first-ever starts for academy young guns Lloyd Fairbrother, Stu Townsend and Tom Hendrickson; whilst there was a healthy splattering of experience in the mix as well with the likes of James Scaysbrook, Romana Graham, Ian Whitten, Sireli Naqelevuki, Tom James and skipper Sweeney all starting.

The Ospreys also had a youthful field to their line-up as head coach Steve Tandy took the opportunity to again run the rule over a number of the club’s up and coming stars on a cold and windy afternoon in the Westcountry.

As for the contest itself, the opening exchanges were largely uneventful as both sides struggled to get to grips with the howling breeze. Morgan’s initial kick-off when straight out of play, whilst opposite number Sweeney followed suit just two minutes later.

It was, however, the visitors who struck first, claiming the game’s opening try on nine minutes. Having been awarded a penalty after Scaysbrook had strayed offside in midfield, the visitors worked the ball inside off the resultant line-out; scrum-half Tom Habberfield took control of the resultant maul before feeding left winger Howells, who did the rest with a close-range finish.

The lead proved short-lived for the Welshmen as the Chiefs responded within five minutes with an unconverted try of their own. Just as the Ospreys did, the home side used a well-constructed catch-and-drive move to propel hooker Cowan-Dickie over the whitewash for his maiden first team score.

Parity between the two sides again last just a few moments as hesitation in the home defence by debutant Townsend allowed Grabham to pounce on a loose ball, before shipping the ball inside to the onrushing Allen who did the rest with little fuss. Morgan was again unable to convert, this time pushing his testing kick wide of the far post.

After a frantic first quarter to the match, the Chiefs slowly began to find their rhythm. Up front their heavyweight forwards packed a decent enough punch, whilst behind Naqelevuki and Fetu'u Vainikolo were causing their own fair share of problems with some hard running through the middle.

With the home pressure mounting, the Ospreys were doing their best to quell the home swell. Unfortunately for them, their actions - not always legal - were spotted by referee Ben Whitehouse, who has little option but to bin flanker Arthur Ellis for blatantly killing the Chiefs ball in front of his own sticks. He was sent to the sidelines for ten minutes, whilst former Welsh international Sweeney dispatched the resultant penalty to reduce the deficit.

Now with the bit between their teeth, the Chiefs looked to press on in search of further reward. Another powerful line-out drive positioned them deep inside the Ospreys 22, but they were unable to capitalise as that raid was thwarted as were subsequent charges from Vainikolo and Sweeney, the latter bundled into touch just as he was about to dot down.

The defiance from the Ospreys in defence was impressive and having held the Premiership club at bay, a clever counter-attack saw them go the length of the field where only a last-gasp tackle from James denied Grabham a certain score.

In the ensuing play, though, the Chiefs were scrambling to plug the holes and when Cowan-Dickie flopped on the ball just metres from his own line, the official had little option but to brandish yellow for a second time in the game.

Although down a man heading towards the interval, the Chiefs were finishing the half strongly and desperate to edge themselves back in front. However, try as they may, they were unable to find a way through and the Ospreys were spared.

HALF TIME EXETER CHIEFS 8 OSPREYS 10

On the resumption, the Chiefs were soon into their stride and with the lively Cowan-Dickie back amongst the mix they once more cranked up the gears. This time, though, the Ospreys could not cope with the attacking waves and it was flanker Scaysbrook who was able to collect a pass midway inside the visiting 22 before pumping his legs and forcing his way over for the try, which Sweeney duly converted to give Exeter the lead for the first time in the game.

Two tries soon became three for the Chiefs as on 49 minutes they extended their grip on proceedings when Cornishman Cowan-Dickie rumbled over for his second of the game, the young front-row forward finishing off some dogged approach work from the Exeter pack. Sweeney again obliged with the extras to put his side 22-10 in front.

Seemingly in control of the contest, the home side then appeared to switch off and allowed their Welsh rivals to haul themselves back into the game with two tries in a five minute burst.

Centre Jenkins was the first to go over, rounding off a slick handling move that was created by skipper Jonathan Spratt; then the visitors cleverly worked the ball from one side of the field to the other to expose the numbers game and set-up Grabham who was able to coast over for a fourth try and level the game up once more at 22-22.

With just over a quarter of the game remaining, it could not have been more evenly poised. The Chiefs, though, are made of strong stuff and having regained their composure following the quick 'one-two' from their visitors, they produced their own double whammy to eventually sink the Welsh resistance.

Again using the catch-and-drive tactic to create the platform, the Exeter eight formed together once more to send Phillips - recently back from a loan spell with Championship side Cornish Pirates - over for his seventh try in Chiefs colours.

Sweeney drilled the conversion to that score and Exeter's fifth try which arrived ten minutes from time when man-of-the-match Armand (pictured) emerged from the mass of bodies proudly clutching the match ball following yet another heavy shunt from the Chiefs pack.

Even then there were further scoring opportunities at either end, but the scoreline remained untouched.

For the Chiefs it was not only another momentum building victory, but also a vital one in their quest to possibly reach the last four of this season's LV= Cup.

Chiefs: T James; F Vainikolo, S Naqelevuki, T Hendrickson (M Bodilly 61), I Whitten; C Sweeney (capt), S Townsend (J Oulton 71); C Rimmer (G Bateman 61), L Cowan-Dickie (K Davies 71), L Fairbrother (C Mitchell 53); W Carrick-Smith (G Bateman 33-43), R Graham (J Conlon 72); D Armand, J Scaysbrook (S Simmonds 68), J Phillips. Replacement (not used): G Steenson

Tries - Cowan-Dickie (2), Scaysbrook, Phillips, Armand; Conversions - Sweeney (4); Penalty - Sweeney

Yellow Card - Cowan-Dickie

Ospreys: R Jones; T Grabham, J Spratt (capt), M Jenkins (A Natoga 65), D Howells; M Morgan (L Price 75), T Habberfield (L Evans 61); M Thomas (N Smith 46), M Dwyer (R Hutchinson 68), D Suter (J Rees 61); L Peers, R Hughes (A Beard 72); T Ardron, A Ellis, M Allen (D Baker 46).

Tries - Howells, Allen, Jenkins, Grabham; Conversion - Morgan

Yellow Card: Ellis

Referee: B Whitehouse (WRU)

Attendance: 8,760

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Worcester Warriors, LV= Cup, Saturday, February 1 (3pm)