Young guns see off Exmouth

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs prop Brett Sturgess got his first taste of competitive action since last December when he featured for the club's Academy team in Tuesday night's friendly win at Exmouth.

The experienced prop - who sustained a serious knee ligament injury in the dying moments of Exeter's clash with Harlequins at Twickenham in Big Game 6 - was given a 40-minute run-out as the Chiefs youngsters ran out 43-5 victors.

Newcomer Jerry Sexton touched down twice for the visitors as did Exeter University centre Alex Willcockson, whilst others who dotted down were skipper Sireli Naqelevuki, Adam Worth and Jack Innard. Ted Landry and Freddie Gabbitas kicked the remainder of their points.

A spirited Exmouth were rewarded with a second half try for replacement Jack Pyne, but it was scant consolation against a well-drilled Chiefs side, who tackle the Cornish All Blacks at Polson Bridge this coming Tuesday (7pm).

Post-Match coach Ricky Pellow again praised the display of the youthful Chiefs, who the previous week had won 24-0 at Redruth in their first pre-season friendly.

"We took time to settle in the first 10, 15 minutes, but as the game moved on we started to take shape, run our patterns and ended up putting in a very good performance," said Pellow. "Again we finished very strongly and we got our rewards for all the hard work we had put in."

With the Chiefs coaching team in attendance at the Imperial Ground, the sight of Sturgess and Naqelevuki back in action was certainly encouraging, as was the display of Irishman Sexton, who has been given until November to try and earn himself a contract with the Premiership club.

"It was really good to get some game time back into Sturge after his injury," added Pellow. "I thought he did well, as did Sireli who again led from the front. The most pleasing thing for me, however, was the way some of our young guys performed again. People like Sam Skinner and Josh Caulfield, they both offered a big physical presence out there, whilst behind some of the backs really showed what they could do against a strong Exmouth side.

"As for Jerry, I thought considering he only came in at the start of the week, he dogged things out very well and he got two tries for his efforts. It's been a bit of a whirlwind start for hi, but his work at the breakdown was strong, he carried well and I'm sure he would have impressed Rob with what he did out there."

With victories over Redruth and Exmouth, Pellow is hoping his young charges can make it a hat-trick of wins at Polson Bridge against the All Blacks.

He feels friendlies such as this are vital in helping to develop the club's next crop of young talent and believes as the years tick by, future groups will only get stronger within the academy structure.

"Each year the group is getting stronger," said Pellow. "All of them you can see are dealing with the pressure of playing senior rugby and next year will be another step up again. Looking ahead we will probably look to get fixtures against either Plymouth Albion and or the Pirates, so that we can really test ourselves at that level.

"I believe it's testament to the players that we have within the group that we are are now looking for those fixtures."