Full steam ahead for Waldrom

By Mark Stevens

Thomas Waldrom insists it will be ‘full steam ahead’ for Rob Baxter’s Exeter side in 2016 as the Chiefs look to maintain their impressive start to the Aviva Premiership season.

The free-scoring No.8 - who topped the division’s try-scoring charts last season - is again up and running with six this term, the latest coming in Saturday’s 33-17 victory over visiting Sale Sharks,

In another impressive display from the Chiefs, Waldrom got the first of Exeter’s five tries on the day, but it was scrum-half Will Chudley (pictured below) who stole the headlines, scoring a brace to ensure the Devon club will finish the year in second place.

The young half-back was at the heart of the home side’s best endeavours and England international Waldrom was quick to pay tribute to the efforts of his team-mate.

“It’s nice when you have people on form,” he said. “Quite a few of the guys were very good, but Will was outstanding. At the break it was 10-10 and we have to make sure we did the right things.

“The try they got early in the second half was a bit of an opener and it made us realise what we had to do. We had to get back on track and it was a great quick tap from Will which helped us level it back up again.

“Then we were able to stamp out own hame on them in the last 30 minutes or so and it was nice to come away with the win. Credit to all the boys for coming out with a good win on Boxing Day though, and to score five points for the Premiership table is great.”

Saturday’s win momentarily lifted the Chiefs back to the summit of the table only for defending champions Saracens to wrestle it back 24 hours later with their victory away to Wasps.

Waldrom admitted Saturday’s success was just the boost his side needed after their European loss to ASM Clermont Auvergne and will set them up nicely heading into Friday’s away trip to Northampton Saints.

“It was hard work, but we got what we wanted in the end,” added the 32-year-old forward. “We’ll take the points and move on to Northampton.

“I think we actually played better into the wind. We have had to play with a strong wind in our last few games here and we have used it to our advantage well.

“We’ve been playing really well here recently and the boys have worked really hard to put pressure on teams and it is producing the wins.”

He continued: “I don’t think we were proud of our performance out in Clermont. We weren’t happy with certain aspects of our game, but I think you have to put those games behind you.

“We are back into the Premiership now after Europe and it’s nice to be back in the league. We have refocused well and it is good to be able to concentrate on the Premiership again.”