Bodilly relishing final chance

By Mark Stevens

Cornishman Max Bodilly says Exeter Chiefs are willing to put everything on the line in their quest to hold on to their LV= Cup crown this Sunday.

Having advanced into this weekend's final at Northampton Franklin's Gardens, Premiership rivals Saracens stand in the way of the Devon club becoming the first-ever side to win the Anglo-Welsh title back-to-back.

Bodilly has played a key role in helping the Chiefs advance to the final stages, featuring in four of their five fixtures to date - including Sunday's 30-22 semi-final win over Leicester Tigers at Welford Road.

Sunday's success was the first time since 1997 that the illustrious Tigers have lost a home semi-final - and Academy product Bodilly believes the Chiefs can use that victory as the ideal springboard to take into this weekend's clash with Saracens.

"To get to another final is an amazing feeling," said the 20-year-old. "The boys put in a brilliant effort and for guys like me, Ed Holmes and Sam Simmonds, just to play in a big atmopshere and big game like that was a lot to take in. It was, though, a really good experience and hopefully we'll get more of them."

As has been the case in recent years, the Chiefs have used the LV= Cup as a breeding ground to bring through their highly-rated young guns, including the likes of Jack Nowell, Sam Hill, Dave Ewers and Henry Slade, all of whom have gone on to make a name for themselves in both the Premiership and Europe.

"It is a bit surreal," admitted Bodilly. "It wasn't that long I was down in the classrooms at Truro College and watching the likes of Hilly, Nowellsy and Sladey in the LV, but now I'm here and along with a few others we're getting our chance as well.

"This year has been brilliant for me, not just because I've had lots of game time in the A League and the LV= Cup, but I'm playing regularly down at the Pirates as well and I can feel my game is improving all the time."

In what was a tough semi-final encounter against the Tigers, Bodilly praised the effort and commitment of the Chiefs - particularly when he was sent to the sin-bin for a professional foul - in helping them to advance further in the competition.

"I think you saw with some of the defensive sets the boys put in, especially when I was off, how hard everyone was willing to work for one another," continued Bodilly. "Everyone was willing to put everything on the line, just because it could have been our last game, and I think we got our rewards in the end."

Overcoming Sarries, however, will be far from easy particularly as the Londoners defeated the Chiefs 35-18 at Allianz Park during the pool stages.

"It's another big game for us," warned Bodilly. "They will be tough and physical, but at the same time it's a fresh start for us. We'll look at the video again this week to see how we can beat them. We showed in the last game some good parts to our game, but this time we have to try and do it for the whole 80 minutes."