Chiefs 44 Irish 24

Exeter Chiefs 44

London Irish 24

Mark Stevens at Sandy Park

Exeter Chiefs rediscovered their winning habit at just the right time as they swot aside the attentions of visiting London Irish with a powerful display to remain amongst the frontrunners in this season’s Aviva Premiership.

Rob Baxter’s side ran in five tries courtesy of Carl Rimmer, Damian Welch (2), Henry Slade and Don Armand, while fly-half Gareth Steenson slotted a further 19 points courtesy of five conversions and three penalties.

In a one-sided first period, all Irish could muster in terms of a score was a solitary penalty from Shane Geraghty. However, late tries from Blair Cowan (2) and Andrew Fenby did at least give them a crumb of comfort from their day out in the Westcountry.

Undone at winless Newcastle Falcons the week previous, the Chiefs made four changes to their starting line-up for the visit of the Exiles to Devon. In the pack, Rimmer and Mitch Lees were both included in place of Ben Moon and Ben White, whilst behind the back division was bolstered by the return of Sam Hill and Jack Nowell with Ian Whitten and Tom James dropping to the bench.

Irish, meanwhile, also tweaked their squad from that which had lost at home to defending champions Northampton Saints. In the back-row Tom Guest was given the nod over Blair Cowan, whilst behind Eamonn Sheridan came into the centre and the experienced Topsy Ojo was given the nod on the left wing.

From the outset, though, it was Baxter’s side who set the attacking tone with a rousing opening that almost brought them reward with just four minutes played. With the visiting defence napping following the award of a penalty, scrum-half Will Chudley came within a whisker of pouncing as he tapped from close range, only to be thwarted by a sea of Irish defenders.

The wait for points, however, did not take long as Steenson opened his account for the afternoon by slotting a penalty after Irish had strayed offside in midfield.

Irish levelled almost immediately when straight from the restart, the Chiefs made a hash of collecting Geraghty’s hanging kick and from the resulting penalty the visitors pounced. Using the penalty to kick to the corner, the Londoners worked their way through a series of close-range drives, before referee Ian Tempest awarded them a penalty from which former England international Geraghty was able to strike.

It would be the only bright spot for Brian Smith’s side in a half which was dominated by the power, pace and precision of their league rivals.

Prop Rimmer roared over for the opening try of the game on 17 minutes as he galloped onto a pass from Chudley to score by the sticks; then Steenson was able to add the extras to Exeter’s second touchdown when Slade raced in under the posts following yet more good approach work from Rimmer and skipper Jack Yeandle.

Steenson’s metronomic boot merely piled on the pressure for the Exiles as he stretched the home lead to 23-3 with two successful penalties; then with virtually the last move of the opening 40 minutes, lock Welch got in on the scoring act when he was able to latch onto a pass from eight metres out to add a third converted try.

HALF TIME EXETER CHIEFS 30 LONDON IRISH 3

Irish coach Smith had clearly seen enough from some of his troops in the first half as he brought on Dan Leo, Cowan and James Short for the start of the second half in a bid to add some fresh impetus into his side’s performance.

Former Cornish Pirates forward Cowan helped to lead the initial charge for the visitors, but sadly he was not getting little support from his colleagues and it was the Chiefs defence which continued to dominate proceedings.

Having repelled the expected backlash from the Exiles, the Chiefs slowly began to find their rhythm once more. Winger Matt Jess sounded a warning with a speedy foray in off the left flank, then the imposing Dave Ewers was held up on the line following a drive off a five-metre line-out.

It was a mere let-off for Irish, who leaked two tries in as many minutes. Welch rounded off another slick attack from Baxter’s men just before the hour mark to secure the try bonus; then straight from the restart Rimmer’s collect released Nowell on the charge before the England international popped the ball to Armand, who did the rest with an assured finish down the right flank.

Steenson converted both with aplomb to increase the home lead, before Baxter introduced the cavalry from the sidelines, including Brett Sturgess who was making his first appearance in the Premiership since injuring his knee in Big Game 6 at Twickenham last December.

To their credit, Irish battled on valiantly but even when they did fashion chances through Andrew Fenby and replacement Matt Parr, the miserly Chiefs rearguard swallowed them up with some heroic defending - a point firmly underlined when the outstanding Armand raced back to deny Short from a certain score

The resulting line-out, though, did not quite go to plan for the Chiefs as Elvis Taione’s overthrow allowed Cowan to latch onto the ball and drive over from five metres to claim their opening try.

Geraghty slotted the conversion to that score and a second which came a minute later when Irish produced a sublime counter attack from deep inside their own half that set-up Fenby to go in under the posts.

The quick fire double certainly ignited the visitors who then added a third converted try in the final minute when Cowan was driven over from a five-metre line-out.

The late flurry of tries gave the scoreline a somewhat flattering look in the end, but as the Chiefs prepare for their latest European adventure they know they go into the break safely ensconced in the Premiership’s top four.

Chiefs: P Dollman; J Nowell, H Slade, S Hill (I Whitten 63), M Jess (T James 63); G Steenson, W Chudley (H Thomas 57); C Rimmer (B Sturgess 64), J Yeandle (capt, E Taione 64), T Francis (M Low 60); M Lees (R Caldwell 60), D Welch; D Ewers, D Armand, T Waldrom (K Horstmann 59).

Tries - Rimmer, Slade, Welch (2), Armand; Conversions - Steenson (5); Penalties - Steenson (3)

Irish: A Fenby; A Lewington (J Short h/t), E Sheridan (F Mulchrone 60), S Geraghty, T Ojo; C Noakes, S Steele (T O’Leary 40); T Court (M Parr 58), D Paice (J Stevens 72), H Aluika (G Cross 58); G Skivington (capt), J Sinclair (D Leo h/t); K Low (T Guest h/t), T Guest, L Narraway.

Tries - Cowan (2), Fenby; Conversions - Geraghty (3); Penalty - Geraghty

Yellow Card: Paice

Referee: I Tempest

Attendance: 8,654

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Bayonne (A), European Rugby Challenge Cup, Saturday, October 18 (8pm)