Pellow's praise for Chiefs

By Mark Stevens

Delighted Ricky Pellow praised his Exeter Chiefs side as they booked their place in this Sunday’s LV= Cup final with a 30-22 victory away to Leicester Tigers.

The Devon club became the first side since 1997 to win a last four meeting at Welford Road thanks in the main to tries from Elvis Taione, Fetu’u Vainikolo and Greg Bateman.

Skipper Ceri Sweeney added a further 15 points with the boot to ensure last year’s champions will get the chance to defend their title against Saracens at Northampton’s Franklin’s Gardens.

The Tigers countered with en early Michele Rizzo try and 17 points from fly-half Tommy Bell, but nothing was going to deny the Chiefs, who are aiming to become the first club to win back-to-back LV= Cup titles.

“Today is another massive step forward for us as a club,” said skills coach Pellow. “To get another final chance this year - with the squad we have put together - is really pleasing. Throughout we have been able to put in a good mix of youth and experience and put in some big performances.

“If you had said we would be fighting on three fronts, we would have had to pinch ourselves. It shows how our recruitment has gone. We have got a squad that can compete on three fronts.

“This is reward for our supporters. We’ve got a lot of fans who support us away from home, and if we can bring another cup back to the club next Sunday it will be a massive step in the right direction.”

Ahead of kick-off, Cornishman Pellow had said the fixture had offered the Exeter players the perfect opportunity for them to create lifelong memories - and they didn’t disappoint as to a man they produced a dogged display in the East Midlands.

“A day like today will never get taken away from them,” he continued. “Yes, we will enjoy tonight and those players will enjoy everything they get form the game, but now we have to reset again and prepare for next weekend against Saracens.”

Having come unstuck against Sarries in the Pool stages - the Londoners won on that occasion 35-18 at Allianz Park - Pellow is aware their opponents will be a formidable force to overcome.

“Any team that plays Saracens knows what they bring,” said Pellow. “They are a territory-based side and we know what they will do. We know it’s going to be physical, like it was today, but at the same time we know how to beat them as well.

“It will be tough, but you’d expect that playing in a final. Right now, we’ll enjoy this result and all that it brings, but will quickly turn out attentions to next week and look to create more memories as a group.”

With little to choose between either side throughout the contest, Pellow paid particular praise to the Exeter replacements, many of whom made a key impact on the game, and also the club’s senior stars who stood up well in the heat of battle.

“We made some key substitutions and our defence and, getting the platform from the scrum, kicked us on from that one-point advantage,” said Pellow.

“If you look at the squad, we’ve mixed it up not just in the LV this season, but also in Europe as well and we’ve made some real strides as a club. Over the last two or three years we’ve grown so much and learnt a lot and now we’re seeing the results of that hard work that we’ve put in.

“I thought the senior guys like Kai Horstmann, Ceri Sweeney and Brett Sturgess really helped to cement the side today, whilst the like of Max Bodilly and Sam Simmonds, they were outstanding and the work they put in put us in good stead.”