Chiefs 16 Bath 6

Exeter Chiefs 16

Bath Rugby 6

Mark Stevens at Sandy Park

It had to happen one day, but Exeter Chiefs finally banished their ‘Bath hoodoo’ by defeating their local rivals in a pulsating Aviva Premiership encounter at a sold-out Sandy Park.

Having failed to defeat their nearest and dearest in nine previous top flight attempts, Rob Baxter’s men stood tall to claim a priceless victory that lifted them to third in the current standings.

Fly-half Henry Slade slotted three penalties for the home side, as well as converting Will Chudley’s all-important try, six minutes from time. In reply, Bath countered with two penalties from full-back Tom Homer, but that was scant reward for them against a miserly Chiefs defence.

Although victorious in their two previous top flight encounters against Newcastle Falcons and Harlequins, the Chiefs were still forced to make changes ahead of kick-off.

Jack Nowell’s elevation into the England squad meant a re-jig in the back division with Ian Whitten moving into the midfield alongside Sam Hill, whilst Welsh international Tom James was recalled on the left wing.

Up front, Carl Rimmer and Jack Yeandle were brought into the front-row and the fit-again Don Armand was added to the back-row.

Bath, minus a handful of international stars, also made changes to their line-up from that which was defeated last time out by champions Northampton Saints.

Ross Batty, Kane Palma-Newport and Leroy Houston were added to the visiting pack, while behind Micky Young and were also included from the off.

Early on, though, it was Bath who held the upper hand as two early scrum penalties - the second of which was kicked by full-back Homer - gave the visitors a slender advantage.

However, the Chiefs - roared on by a capacity crowd inside Sandy Park - were soon back on terms. Captain Dean Mumm picked off a Young pass deep inside his own 22, before galloping clear of the visiting defenders.

The Aussie ace had cantered over half the field before he was finally hauled to the deck by Homer rushing back. However, as Mumm look to offload to onrushing team-mate Carl Rimmer, the prop was cynically pulled back by Young.

Referee Dean Richards was initially unsure as to what happened, but a quick referral with the TV match official confirmed the obvious - and Young was duly banished to the sidelines for a 10-minute spell.

The resultant penalty also allowed Slade his first shot at goal and the young fly-half did not disappoint as he plundered a sublime kick from 30 metres to level the game.

Minutes later and the Chiefs threatened again, a swift raid down the right was quickly switched back across the field through a plethora of hands to James, who was eventually thwarted just metres from the Bath line.

As a thunderous first period ticked by at pace, so both sides continued to push forward in attack. Matt Jess and Phil Dollman offered decent opportunities for the home side, whilst the dangerous Semesa Rokoduguni caused issues in the Exeter back line with one particular raid until a terrific tap tackle from the chasing Will Chudley.

It was the Chiefs who continued to look the more threatening of the two teams as Yeandle and Thomas Waldrom combined first, then Whitten’s searing break through the middle created a super opening for Dollman, but he knocked on with the line in sight.

Sadly, the Chiefs could not turn their pressure into points and it was Bath who countered down the other end of the field to reclaim the lead just three minutes before the break.

Ollie Devoto’s clever footwork saw him create the opening from which Rimmer was adjudged to have entered the ruck illegally. Up stepped Homer to dispatch the resultant penalty kick and restore Bath’s slim lead.

HALF TIME EXETER CHIEFS 3 BATH RUGBY 6

Having been pinged five times in the first half for scrum offences, the resumption brought a change of fortune for the Devonians with the opening set-piece as the Exeter eight drove their rivals back at a rate of knots.

It duly drew the penalty from the whistle of referee Dean Richards and up stepped Slade, who landed a sublime kick from halfway to tie matters up once more.

Bath rallied with a sustained spell of pressure shortly after, but the Chiefs manfully rose to the challenge, producing a defensive shield which - after numerous attempts from Bath - was repelled much to the delight of the raucous natives.

With little to choose between the two Westcountry warriors, it was now the turn of Baxter’s men to lay out their attacking plans. Sam Hill, James and Jess all made decent enough inroads for the home side, but the end product was still lacking as the game ticked into the final quarter.

As the intensity of the game headed towards boiling point, so the beating of the tribal drums from all corners increased in volume. The Chiefs, it seemed, were feeding off the noise and Bath were beginning to show signs of buckling.

Wave upon wave of attacks saw Exeter punch their way deep into enemy territory, but Bath were holding firm, that was until an illegal hand on the floor offered Slade the chance to put the Chiefs in front for the first time.

The ever-blossoming Slade gleefully accepted the chance with his third penalty, before then slotting the extras to the game’s opening try on 74 minutes.

It was initially carved out by a searing run down the right from inspirational skipper Mumm, but when the ball was driven back inside through a series of attacking phases, it was the diminutive Chudley, who spotted the gap and sneaked in under the posts.

Bath looked to respond almost immediately through the imposing bulk of Sam Burgess, but the former Rugby League convert saw his path marked defiantly by a sea of ‘Men in Black’.

The Chiefs soaked up the swell of pressure, eventually winning a penalty that Slade fired back down field to clear the danger.
And as the clock slowly ticked towards full-time, so the celebrations – on and off the field – began to kick into place. Baxter was mobbed by a number of home fans as he handed towards the touchline to congratulate each and every one of his troops.

The battle against the men from the Roman City had been won, but the long-term war will continue at pace, next up is winless London Welsh.
Chiefs: P Dollman (B McGuigan 71); T James, I Whitten, S Hill, M Jess; H Slade, W Chudley; C Rimmer, J Yeandle (L Cowan-Dickie 59), T Francis (A Brown 51); D Mumm (capt), D Welch (M Lees 67); D Ewers, D Armand, T Waldrom. Replacements (not used): B Sturgess, B White, D Lewis, G Steenson, B McGuigan.

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

Bath: T Homer; S Rokoduguni, S Burgess, K Eastmond, O Woodburn; O Devoto, M Young (C Cook 67); N Auterac (B Obano 71), R Batty (R Webber 57), K Palma-Newport (M Lahiff 57); S Hooper (capt), D Day; C Fearns (A Faosiliva 68), F Louw, L Houston (M Garvey 37). Replacements (not used): R Jennings, L Arscott.

Penalties - Homer (2)

Yellow Card: Young

Referee: D Richards

Attendance: 12,621

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v London Welsh (H), Aviva Premiership, Saturday, March 7 (3pm)