Wasps 19 Chiefs 16

 

London Wasps 19

Exeter Chiefs 16

Mark Stevens at Adams Park

Exeter's Henry Slade may well be one of English's rugby gems of the future, but today it was the wise old man Andy Goode who proved the 'King of Adams Park' as he settled an enthralling Aviva Premiership encounter.

With the final kick of the game, the experienced No.10 dispatched a sublime 40-metre drop-goal to condemn Rob Baxter's visiting Chiefs to a sixth league defeat of the season.

Mocked by the home faithful during a patchy first half from the former England international, Goode duly answered his critics in style after the break, using his experience and guile to craft a vital victory for his team.

Having led 13-3 at the break thanks to an early Dave Lewis try (pictured) and eight points from the boot of Slade, Wasps hauled themselves back into the contest thanks to kicks from Goode and Elliot Daly, plus a second half score from scrum-half Joe Simpson.

The Chiefs had only themselves to blame as a nervy and at times indisciplined second half show allowed Wasps to gain crucial momentum. Even then, the Devonians could have claimed a victory of their own, although the TMO deemed otherwise as he chalked off a potential score from Slade. Replays later showed the young playmaker may well have bagged his maiden score, but it was not to be.

Whereas the Chiefs ended 2013 with defeat to Harlequins in Big Game 6, Wasps were victorious on the road with a hard fought victory over Newcastle Falcons in testing conditions at Kingston Park. That said, Dai Young still tinkered with his winning formula making three changes to his starting line-up. Two of them came in the back-row where Guy Thompson and Rory Pitman started in place of James Haskell and Sam Jones; whilst England international Joe Simpson was given the nod at scrum-half with Charlie Davies dropping to the bench.

There was also a new look to the Chiefs line-up as former Wasps player Chris Whitehead was recalled at hooker; James Hanks came into the second-row and there was a new half-back pairing in the shape of Dave Lewis and Slade, the latter of whom was making his first-ever Premiership start.

And it did not take Slade long to make an impact on proceedings as he slotted the conversion to the opening try of the game which came inside the opening minute when scrum-half Lewis scampered over for his maiden score in Exeter colours.

Having won a line-out wide on the right through skipper Dean Mumm, the visitors drove the ball back inside through their forwards and when a ruck was formed midway inside the Wasps half, Lewis sniped from the base, racing clear of the home cover to score under the posts.

Although it was a dream start for Baxter's side, Wasps looked to counter almost immediately as a smart counter-attack saw the ball chipped in behind the Exeter defence, releasing speedster Tom Varndell at pace down the left flank. However, as the former England international looked to close in on the try-line, a crucial foot in touch denied him a likely score.

It was a momentary let-off for the Chiefs, who did concede their first points on 12 minutes when full-back Daly thundered over a lengthy penalty after the visitors were pulled up by referee Dean Richards for infringing at the breakdown.

But no sooner had Wasps got themselves up and running, they preceded to shoot themselves in the foot as straight from the restart they were pinged for an identical offence and it allowed starlet Slade to dispatch a quality kick of his own to restore Exeter's ten-point buffer.

At the other end, Varndell was again denied a potential try as Cornishman Jack Nowell (pictured) raced back at speed to pounce on the 28-year-old just yards from the line; whilst both Slade and Daly saw lengthy penalty chances slip wide of the target.

However, Slade was afforded another opportunity on the half-hour mark when Hoani Tui got the better of his opposite number Matt Mullan at scrum deep inside the home 22 and the Plymouth-born youngster made no mistake to restore his side's 10-point buffer.

Again, though, Wasps look to counter almost immediately as an indiscretion from the Exeter back-row at the restart gifted Goode the chance to reduce the arrears. Sadly, the experienced No.10 was not his deadly self, screwing his kick short and wide, much to the relief of the hearty travelling Tribe.

With half-time approaching, the Chiefs again positioned themselves back in enemy territory as a high 'up and under' from Tom James was misread by Daly, who was propelled back over his own line by a squadron of Exeter chasers. It set-up a key five-metre scrum for Devon's finest, but they were unable to capitalise despite referee Richards having to reset the set piece at least five times.

It was certainly a missed opportunity for the visitors, who were then dealt an untimely blow right on the first half whistle when prop Tui had to be stretchered from the field with a neck injury following a collapsed scrum.  It meant an early introduction for Alex Brown into the fray, but crucially the Chiefs were able to hold firm until the interval.

HALF TIME    LONDON WASPS  3        EXETER CHIEFS 13

On the resumption the early exchanges were somewhat frantic as both teams looked to gain the early ascendancy. However, it was the home side who pocketed the first reward of the half as Goode atoned for his earlier miss by landing a penalty after the Chiefs were adjudged to have dropped a scrum just outside of their own 22.

It was the lift the Londoners craved and with momentum behind them they threatened once more as a darting run from centre Charlie Hayter saw him canter through the heart of the Exeter midfield. Although he was crucially felled yards from the line, the ensuing play saw the visitors stray offside and that allowed Goode to replicate his earlier effort.

Suddenly it was Wasps who carried the threat all over the park, but Baxter looked top quell the home pressure by sending Yeandle and Welch into the fray to offer fresh grunt up front. Initially the move appeared to paid dividends as the Chiefs positioned themselves back in the home half. However, some ferocious rucking saw them regain possession and back on the offensive.

Using a scrum on the edge of the Exeter 22 after Slade has spilled the ball, Simpson collected from the feet of No.8 Pitman before spotting a yawning gap in the Chiefs defence to race clear and under the sticks for a try that Goode duly converted to give his side the lead for the first time in the contest.

Although it was Wasps who were dominating the half, the Chiefs were still very much in the contest and when a loose Goode kick was returned by Arscott - via a Wasps hand - it allowed Ian Whitten to release James down the left touchline. The Welshman cantered clear before slipping the ball back inside to Slade, who with 20 metres to run seemed destined to score Exeter's second try.

Wasps, though, had other ideas and similar to Nowell in the first period, the intervention of Simpson proved telling as he somehow positioned himself between the ball and the ground to deny Slade a maiden top flight try following consultation with the TV match official.

As it was, the Chiefs were not finished and having pressed from the resultant five-metre scrum, they worked themselves another penalty opening which Slade (pictured) was able to fire over to tie the game up with just over five minutes remaining.

With all to play for in the dying embers, the two rivals literally threw the kitchen sink at each other as they pressed for a late winner. The Chiefs huffed and puffed in their quest, whereas Wasps adopted a more streetwise approach, eventually working the opening for the experienced Goode to do his stuff.

For the Chiefs, a return to European and domestic cup action beckons for the next month ahead, by which time the ground will hopefully have then hardened up and we can get back to seeing Baxter's men in all-out attack mode for the season finale.

Wasps: E Daly; W Helu, C Bell (capt), C Hayter, T Varndell; A Goode, J Simpson; M Mullan, C Festuccia, J Cooper-Wooley (W Taylor 56); T Palmer (K Myall 62), J Launchbury; A Johnson, G Thompson, R Pitman (E Jackson 68). Replacements: T Lindsay, S McIntyre, C Davies, J Carlisle, A Suniula

Try - Simpson; Conversion - Goode; Penalties - Daly, Goode (2); Drop-Goal - Goode

Chiefs: L Arscott; J Nowell, I Whitten (Shoemark 78), J Shoemark (S Hill 68), T James; H Slade, D Lewis; B Moon, C Whitehead (J Yeandle 49), H Tui (A Brown 39); D Mumm (capt), J Hanks (D Welch 49); T Johnson, B White (K Horstmann 69), D Ewers. Replacements: C Rimmer, W Chudley, G Steenson.

Try - Lewis; Conversion - Slade; Penalties - Slade (3)

Referee: D Richards

Attendance: 5,356

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Glasgow Warriors (H), Heineken Cup, Saturday, January 11 (3pm)