Pellow looking to build on win

By Mark Stevens
6/12/16

Ricky Pellow praised his Exeter Braves side after they made it back-to-back victories in this season’s Aviva A League with a 43-22 success over Bath United at Sandy Park.

A dominant first half display – in which the Braves led 31-0 – set the platform for this latest victory, which helped lift last season’s champions up to third in the Southern Group after three rounds of battle.

Bath were much improved after the break, scoring four tries of their own – including a hat-trick for winger Levi Davies – but they were no match for the Braves, who are just two points behind group leaders Bristol, who they face later this month on December 19.

Hooker Shaun Malton led the scoring charts for Pellow’s side, helping himself to a hat-trick, while there were further touchdowns for Ollie Atkins (2), Max Bodilly and Michele Campagnaro. Fly-half Joe Simmonds added the remainder of the points with four successful conversions.

Post-match, Pellow said: “First half we were outstanding and we played some quality rugby. The second half we got scrappy and Bath came back into the game hard and deserved their points. If we’re honest we took our foot off the gas a little bit and it would have been nice to have kept their points down. That said, it’s a good win for us and the result really bangs up the table.”

Having selected a powerful starting XV, which included seven full internationals, it was no real surprise that the Braves dominated the opening 40 minutes.

Among those handed starts were Fijian newcomer Niko Matawalu and England star Jack Nowell, who was making his first appearance since tearing a quad whilst away on international duty.

The sight of both players featuring in Exeter colours certainly excited the crowd of almost 1,400 and Pellow said it was good to see the duo up and running.

“Nowellsy was a bit rusty, but that’s not surprising because he’s not had a lot of rugby recently,” said Pellow. “Just to get him out there and get 50 minutes under his belt is the most pleasing thing. Obviously he wanted to get himself into the game as much as possible and he had some instances where he could, but it’s a starting point for him now and let’s hope we get him up and running properly from here.”

As for Matawalu, who only joined the Chiefs last month from Bath, Pellow added: “People had seen Niko before he joined us and they know he’s a massive ball of energy whether he plays wing or at nine. Again there are a few things we need to tidy up, but I think once he gets used to our patterns, our calls and how we like to play, I think he will be really dangerous.

“He showed tonight a couple of lovely touches, whilst his kick game was very strong, and that’s what you need either as winger or as a nine.”

Now within touching distance of leaders Bristol on 12 points and next best Saracens (11 pts), Pellow insists he and his players are looking forward to a strong second half to the A League campaign, starting at Bristol in a fortnight’s time.

“The loss early doors at Saracens knocked us back a bit, but we’ve recovered well and we’ve picked up two very good wins since,” he said. “We’ve got Bristol next up, which we know will be a tough game, but we’ll prepare well for that and look forward to going up there and hopefully getting a good result.”