Chiefs 25 Gloucester 26

Exeter Chiefs 25

Gloucester 26

Mark Stevens at Sandy Park
Unlike Game One of their Aviva Premiership existence, Exeter’s 100th top flight encounter failed to bring the same rewards for Rob Baxter’s side.

Back in September 2010, the Chiefs stunned the rugby world when they saw off visiting Gloucester 22-10 thanks to a Mark Foster try and the deadly boot of Gareth Steenson.

Five years down the line, Devon’s finest have grown in stature, forging themselves as one of England’s leading lights.

On this occasion, though, Steenson was unable to repeat the feat as a late conversion attempt rebounded off the post and spared the Cherry & Whites.

After a tight opening half, one in which Gloucester led thanks to two Greig Laidlaw penalties, the second period burst into life with a flurry of points.

In the end, it was the visitors who triumphed as converted tries from Tom Savage and Ben Morgan, coupled with a sweet Billy Twelvetrees drop-goal, proved sufficient for Gloucester to enact revenge on their defeat by the Chiefs earlier this term.

Exeter, it has to be said, will be kicking themselves though as tries from wingers Jack Nowell and Matt Jess, plus another for the free-scoring Thomas Waldrom, were deemed not enough.

Steenson slotted two conversions and two penalties to add to his seasonal tally, but it was his late miss that proved significant.

Having suffered back-to-back defeats on the road at both Sale Sharks and Bath, Baxter was hoping a return to a capacity Sandy Park crowd would provide the perfect pick-me-up heading into the New Year.

The home side stuck with an unchanged back division, but they were forced into changes up front. A knee injury meant Damian Welch was sidelined in the second row, so into the fray came Mitch Lees and he was joined at the last-minute by Ben White, who was promoted from the bench after Don Armand’s wife went into labour prior to kick-off.

White’s inclusion in the starting XV meant his void on the bench was filled by Academy youngster Sam Simmonds who - along with lock Jerry Sexton - was one of two players included in a Chiefs Premiership line-up for the first time.

Meanwhile, Gloucester - who themselves suffered successive home defeats to Bath and Wasps over the festive period - also made changes with Darren Dawidiuk and Ben Morgan brought in up front, whilst Tongan international David Halaifonua was handed his first start for the club.

It was, however, the visitors who were first to show in this late kick-off, nudging themselves in front with just three minutes played when Scottish international Laidlaw landed a lengthy penalty after the Chiefs were pulled up for going off their feet.

Despite the early blow, the Chiefs looked to respond and they threatened twice through wingers Matt Jess and Jack Nowell. The former fumbled on the Gloucester line following a clever grubber kick in behind from Henry Slade; then Nowell just missed out as Jonny May recovered well following an earlier fumble on halfway.

Although the Chiefs were bossing possession and territory for much of the opening quarter, they fell further behind on 22 minutes when prop Moray Low was harshly adjudged to have dropped a scrum.

The Scotsman’s indiscretion allowed compatriot Laidlaw a second shot at goal and the scrum-half did not disappoint as he dissected a lovely kick between the posts at the North End.

With Exeter’s accuracy adrift and handling errors proving costly at key moments, the Chiefs did offer a decent threat on the half-hour mark when Messrs Chudley, Dollman and Ewers broke clear through the heart of the Gloucester rearguard. However, as the visitors scrambled in defence, No.8 Thomas Waldrom was unable to carry on the attack as his intended pass was spilled by a team-mate just metres from the try-line.

Undeterred, the Chiefs looked to get themselves up and running and they were afforded a decent chance just prior to the break when Nowell was taken out off the ball by Gloucester lock Tom Palmer. The first penalty to the corner was a mess and allowed Gloucester to clear the danger, but afforded a second line-out move, the home side cleverly worked the ball across the field to the onrushing Jess, who was thwarted at the death as he looked to power over on the charge.

HALF TIME EXETER CHIEFS 0 GLOUCESTER RUGBY 6

Having seen chances come and go during the first 40 minutes, it was the Chiefs who were afforded the opening chance on the resumption when visiting openside Matt Kvesic was deemed to have held on in the tackle. Sadly, the normally deadly Steenson could not strike as his lengthy effort drifted wide of the right post. It was only his second miss on home turf this season.

At the other end, the Cherry & Whites capitalised on turnover ball to create the opening for England international Twelvetrees to drop a sublime drop-goal from 35 metres out to extend their lead to nine points.

Baxter’s side needed to find a response and it duly arrived. Having huffed and puffed through the forwards, Steenson’s midfield break opened up the Gloucester defence before he offloaded to Cornishman Nowell, who did the rest as some unbelievable footwork and power saw him race in under the sticks.

Stevenson converted that score and Exeter’s second which arrived two minutes later. With Gloucester pressing hard in attack, a loose pass from Twelvetrees was gobbled up by Jess who - just as he did at Bath seven days earlier - raced clear of the cover to score under the sticks.

In front for the first time, Exeter’s lead lasted barely two minutes as it was the turn of the visitors to pounce, Savage blocking Steenson’s intended clearance before pouncing on the loose ball to score Gloucester’s opening try, which Laidlaw duly converted.

Whereas the first period was a tight, attritional affair, the second half was much more open as both sides looked to press home their advantage.

Steenson and Laidlaw traded penalties apiece before the Irishman edged the Chiefs back in front just past the hour mark when Twelvetrees failed to roll away from the tackle area as White looked to power his way through.

With little to choose between either side, the home Tribe were silenced when England No.8 Morgan was able to steal over from close range after the visitors cleverly worked a five-metre scrum around the corner. Laidlaw obliged with the extras to put his side six points clear with ten minutes remaining.

Back roared the Chiefs, though, as a well-drilled driving maul positioned them deep inside the Gloucester 22 from where it appeared ‘The Tank’ had dotted down for his ninth of the season. Referee Andrew Small was unsure initially, but a quick check with the TV match official confirmed the No.8 had scored. Steenson, though, could not convert as his effort cannoned back off the near post.

Still a point adrift, the Chiefs threw the proverbial ‘kitchen sink’ at their rivals in the dying stages, but crucially Gloucester held firm under mounting pressure from the home side who were left to reflect on another golden opportunity left to go begging.
Chiefs: P Dollman (B McGuigan 79); J Nowell, H Slade, S Hill (I Whitten 63), M Jess; G Steenson, W Chudley (H Thomas 56); B Moon (C Rimmer 57), J Yeandle (L Cowan-Dickie 57), M Low (T Francis 53); D Mumm (capt), M Lees (J Sexton 46); D Ewers. B White, T Waldrom. Replacement (not used): S Simmonds.

Tries - Nowell, Jess, Waldrom; Conversions - Steenson (2); Penalties - Steenson (2)

Gloucester: C Sharples, D Halaifonua, M Atkinson, B Twelvetrees (capt), J May; J Hook, G Laidlaw; N Wood, D Dawidiuk (A Lutui 53), J Afoa (S Knight 75); T Savage, T Palmer; S Kalamafoni (G Evans 53), M Kvesic, B Morgan. Replacements (not used): Y Thomas, E Stooke, D Robson, B Burns, B Meakes

Tries - Savage, Morgan; Conversions - Laidlaw (2); Penalties - Laidlaw (3); Drop-Goal - Twelvetrees

Referee: A Small

Attendance: 12,621

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v London Irish (A), Sunday, January 11 (3pm)