Connacht 24 Chiefs 33

Connacht 24

Exeter Chiefs 33

Mark Stevens at The Sportsground

A powerful second half display saw Exeter Chiefs book their place in the last eight of this season’s European Challenge Cup with victory away to Connacht.

Having trailed 17-10 at the break, Rob Baxter’s side scored 23 unanswered points after the break to secure their fourth win in this season’s competition.

Connacht shaded a tight first half thanks to tries from Matt Healy, Willie Faloon and Danie Poolman, the last of which was converted by fly-half Jack Carty, whilst the Chiefs countered with a penalty try and a penalty from Henry Slade.

The second period, though, belonged to the Englishmen as converted tries from skipper Dean Mumm and Don Armand, plus further kicks from Slade sealed the club’s first-ever Cup win on Irish soil.

Connacht rallied with a late try from Healy, but it was never enough to thwart the Chiefs.

After four tough weeks in the Premiership, the Chiefs were hoping their return to European action would allow them the chance to rediscover their winning formula.

However, standing in the way of Baxter’s side were the Irish province, who were not only looking to avenge the 33-13 loss at Sandy Park back in October, but at the same time defend an impressive home record that had seen them win 10 of their last 12 home games in this competition.

For the Chiefs, Baxter introduced Luke Cowan-Dickie and Alex Brown into the pack following last week’s loss at London Irish, while a re-jigged back division saw Dave Lewis and Slade form a new half-back pairing; Jack Nowell was switched from the wing into the centre and Ian Whitten filled the No.14 jersey.

Connacht, like their Devon rivals, also made changes, one of which came in the warm-up where Jack Carty was brought in at fly-half after Craig Ronaldson broke down pre-match.

Also included from the outset was imposing No.8 George Naoupu, Danie Poolman on the wing and former Chief, Aly Muldowney, who helped initiate the opening points of the game as Connacht worked a slick handling move from one side of the field to the other for Healy to cross in the right-hand corner.

It was no more than the Irishmen deserved after a promising opening to the contest, but as time ticked by slowly the Chiefs began to find their feet, particularly up front where they were bossing in the scrums.

A succession of penalties allowed Baxter’s men the chance to set up camp deep inside the home 22 and following three scrums – all of which were dropped by the home side – French referee Mathieu Raynal had no option but to award the penalty try, which Slade duly converted.

Exeter’s lead, however, proved shortlived as Connacht regained the lead inside three minutes when they used a penalty to the corner to set-up a catch-and-drive move which – aided by virtually every home back – saw flanker McKeon burrow over in the left-hand corner for the unconverted score.

Slade had the chance to level things up just moments later when Connacht were punished for infringing at a ruck, but the Exeter playmaker was unable to capitalise, drifiting his kick wide of the left post.

The Plymothian, though, made up for his earlier miss when with seven minutes of the first period remaining, he was able to slot a penalty after home prop Denis Buckley was adjudged to have not released at the tackle area.

With little to choose between either side in a hard-fought encounter, Connacht nudged themselves back in front on the stroke of half time when a clever burst down the left from Healty created the opening for the home side to again exploit the numbers game out wide, working the ball to the right flank for Poolman to cross.

Carty this time added the extras to the score to give his side a healthy seven-point buffer at the break.

HALF TIME CONNACHT RUGBY 17  EXETER CHIEFS 10

With the wind at their backs on the resumption, the Chiefs knew they needed a strong start to the half to get themselves back in the contest.

It duly arrived as first Slade landed a second penalty, before he then added the extras to Exeter’s second try which arrived courtesy of Captain Mumm, who masterfully intercepted Kieran Marmion’s intended pass to the right before galloping clear of the home cover to score by the posts.

The Chiefs, though, continued to live dangerously and replacement Darragh Leader almost capitalised for the hosts when Slade’s intended clearance was charged down. Thankfully, a knock-on came to Exeter’s rescue and they were able to clear their lines.

Having survived the threat, the Chiefs again used their pack to win them another penalty – this time just inside the Connacht half – and up stepped Slade to dispatch a sublime kick.

Two minutes later and the Premiership outfit almost claimed another try, Damian Welch picking off another pass on halfway to race clear. However, as the towering lock closed in on the line, he tripped over his own feet just 10 metres out and Don Armand was unable to hold onto the lock’s subsequent offload.

It did not matter as the Chiefs claimed their third converted try just past the hour mark, the forwards – led superbly by the outstanding Mumm and Cowan-Dickie – barged their way into enemy territory, the results of which were a score for Armand.

With the breathing space they craved, Slade’s fourth penalty merely edged them further in front with just ten minutes of the contest remaining.

Now with the try bonus point in sight for both sides, it was Connacht who had the final say when the hugely impressive Healy was able to claim his second of thre afternoon, finishing off a well crafted attack from the hosts.

Still sensing they could salvage something in the dying embers, Darragh Leader saw a long-range penalty chance drift wide, whilst at the other end some scramble defence denied Matt Jess from potentially poaching all five points for the Chiefs.

As it is, the Chiefs advance to the last eight – the only question that remains is can they see off Bayonne to guarantee a home quarter-final?

Connacht: M Muliaina; D Poolman, R Henshaw, D McSharry (D Leader 40), M Healy; J Carty (M Nikora 70), K Marmion (C Blade 70); D Buckley (JP Cooney 68), T McCartney (D Heffernan 68), R Ah You (F Bealham h/t); Q Roux, A Muldowney (A Browne 64); J Muldoon (capt, E McKeon 64), W Faloon, G Naoupu.

Tries – Healy (2), Faloon, Poolman; Conversion – Carty (2)

Chiefs: P Dollman; I Whitten, J Nowell, S Hill, M Jess; H Slade, D Lewis (H Thomas 64); B Moon (B Sturgess 73), L Cowan-Dickie (G Bateman 73), A Brown (C Rimmer 65); D Mumm (capt), D Welch (K Horstman 65); D Ewers, D Armand (J Scaysbrook 73), T Waldrom. Replacements (not used): G Steenson, B McGuigan.

Tries – Penalty Try, Mumm, Armand; Conversions – Slade (3); Penalties – Slade (4)

Referee: M Raynal (FFRU)

Attendance: 5,088

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Bayonne (H), European Challenge Cup, Saturday, January 24 (5:30pm)