Wasps 25 Chiefs 24

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Wasps 25

Exeter Chiefs 24

Mark Stevens at the Ricoh Arena

In 1956 at Aintree it was Devon Loch who seemed destined for Grand National glory only to crash when in sight of the finish line.

Sixty years later, ironically on the same day as the world’s most famous horse race, it was Rob Baxter’s Exeter Chiefs side who slipped in the final furlong, losing their first-ever European Champions Cup quarter-final at the hands of rivals Wasps.

As the stadium clock clicked it’s way into the final second of 80 pulsating minutes, it was home full-back Charles Piutau who powered his way over the whitewash to deliver a telling blow on the ambitious Westcountry outfit.

Having fought their way back into contention with a late rally, it was Wasps fly-half Jimmy Gopperth who stepped up to land a telling conversion from wide on the right touchline to send his team through to the last four.

Scriptwriters could not have penned a worse way for the Chiefs to have suffered Euro heartbreak, such was the desire, commitment and all-round effort they had produced in a valiantly display at the Ricoh Arena.

Thomas Waldrom, on his 50th appearance for the club, took his try tally to a staggering 36 in less than two years at Sandy Park, while replacement Harry Williams also found his way over the line as it seemed the Chiefs - whose remaining points came courtesy of Gareth Steenson - seemed destined to advance into the last four.

Wasps, however, had other ideas and with Piutau claiming two tries of his own, alongside another from winger Frank Halai, it was the former champions who were left buzzing come the final whistle.

Having put Premiership matters to bed for the week, the sole focus for the Chiefs was that of creating yet more history in the ever-increasing chapters of the Devon club.

Buoyed by their half century of points against in-form Worcester Warriors last time out, Baxter made three changes in personnel for this latest assignment. Mitch Lees and Geoff Parling were both recalled in the Exeter engine room, while behind Australian international Lachie Turner was handed his first-ever European start.

Meanwhile, Wasps - who came into the game having won 10 of their 11 games - were also at full-strength, bringing into their side Charles Piutau, Dan Robson, Carlo Festuccia, Kearnan Myall and skipper James Haskell.

With confidence running high in both camps, it was little surprise that the game started at break-neck speed. Wasps provided the early impetus, playing almost two and a half minutes in attack, before a dropped pass in midfield allowed the Chiefs to gain some respite.

Thankfully, the visitors repelled the threat, creating a counter of their own which went down field, but also proved pointless in the long run.

The deadlock, however, was finally broken on seven minutes when Gopperth landed a lengthy penalty after Exeter prop Ben Moon had been adjudged by French referee Romain Poite to have dropped a scrum which, initially, had been shunted forward by the Chiefs.

Baxter’s side - who had won 41-27 at the same venue back in December - looked to respond immediately as Steenson’s clever break through the middle released Jack Nowell wide on the right, but as the Cornishman tore into the Wasps 22 at pace, he was deemed to have held on and the chance was lost.

Wasps made the most of the let off and doubled their tally on 17 minutes through Gopperth when Waldrom was singled out by Poite for flopping over at a ruck inside his own 22.

Slowly, though, the Chiefs were beginning to find their own attacking rhythm and sounded their intent off one particularly line out that saw Waldrom initially trundle the ball up, before Lees propelled himself towards the whitewash at a rate of knots.

Again, Wasps were able to quell the Exeter swell, this time holding up the imposing Australian, even though his team-mates did their best to set up yet another attacking platform just yards from the home line.

The Chiefs, however, had the bit between their teeth and in a subsequent raid, they won themselves a penalty which Steenson duly dispatched to the right corner. Then, using the same tactic which had served them so well back in December, they collected the set-piece, creating the opportunity for Waldrom to plough over for his 35th try in 50 Exeter appearances.

Steenson added the conversion to that score and then repeated the feat just before the interval as Waldrom steamed over the whitewash for a second time. The England international this time intercepting a pass from Bradley Davies before driving over the line.

Poite was initially unsure of the grounding, referring the matter to the ‘Man in the Van’, but the inevitable soon became reality and the score was duly awarded to cap a decent first 40 minutes for the Chiefs.

HALF TIME WASPS 6 EXETER CHIEFS 14

Stung by Exeter’s storming conclusion to the first half, it was Wasps who were fastest out of the blocks on the resumption, cutting the deficit inside four minutes with their opening try of the game.

Winger Christian Wade instigated the initial raid, breaking clear on halfway with some fast feed before feeding Robson, whose clever grubber kick in behind Nowell fell invitingly into the arms of Charles Piutau, who was able to dot down under pressure from the England ace.

Home joy proved short-lived, however, as almost straight from the restart the visitors were back on the offensive. Swift hands helped to release Don Armand wide on the left and as he broke towards the line, his fellow forwards worked the ball back inside through a plethora of pick-and-go drives to set-up Williams to crash over under the posts for the converted score.

With the ten-point cushion, the Chiefs preceded to flex their attacking muscles a little more. Henry Slade saw a long-range penalty sail wide of the left post, before Parling had a potential fourth try chalked off by the French official for a forward pass.

Undeterred, the ‘Men in White’ continued to offer the greater threat and they extended their lead yet further when Steenson fired over a straight-forward penalty just before the hour mark after Haskell had failed to roll away at the tackle.

It was impressive stuff from the Devonians, who having exposed wounds in the Wasps rearguard, now set about going for their jugular. Piling forward in numbers it looked as though a fourth try was on the cards, but somehow the hosts scrambled sufficiently, turning defence into attack with deadly accuracy.

Indeed, such was their response in attack that they hit back with a second try, Halai finishing off after the home side had exposed a numbers game on the Chiefs with a swift counter attack. Gopperth converted to leave just six points in it entering into the final ten minutes.

Whereas the Chiefs had ruled the roost for much of the half, now it was Wasps who were looking to deliver a potentially knockout blow. Throwing everything at Baxter’s men, it was now backs to the wall stuff for the visitors.

For a sustained period Wasps had the hammer down, pressing hard at the Exeter defensive line. Crucially, the Chiefs were standing firm, that was until the very last passage of play where, having repelled the threat down the left flank, the home side worked it back across the park to the right where the waiting Piutau was on hand to barge his way to the line.

The Ricoh erupted into a wall of noise, but still there was work to be done for Gopperth. Under pressure, the Kiwi sharp-shooter - one of the best in the business - stepped forward and drilled a deadly kick between the sticks.

This time, the noise was even greater. His first pumping celebration, followed by a mob of delirious team-mates, cued wild scenes amongst the home faithful.

Wasps will now advance to Reading’s Madjeski Stadium later this month, after which they travel further west to Sandy Park, where the Chiefs are already in waiting, hellbent on gaining some sweet revenge.

Wasps: C Piutau; C Wade, E Daly, S Piatau, F Halai; J Gopperth, D Robson; M Mullan (S McIntyre 60), C Festuccia (A Johnson 51), J Cooper-Woolley; J Launchbury, K Myall (B Davies 22); J Haskell (capt, T Young 60), G Smith, N Hughes. Replacements (not used): L Cittadini, J Simpson, R Jackson, R Miller.

Tries - C Piutau (2), Halai; Conversion - Gopperth (2); Penalties - Gopperth (2)

Chiefs: L Turner; J Nowell, H Slade, I Whitten (M Campagnaro 71), O Woodburn; G Steenson (capt), W Chudley; B Moon (A Hepburn 60), L Cowan-Dickie (J Yeandle 67), M Low (H Williams 22); M Lees (D Welch 57), G Parling; D Armand, J Salvi (D Ewers 58), T Waldrom. Replacements (not used): D Lewis, J Short.

Tries - Waldrom (2), Williams; Conversions - Steenson (3); Penalty - Steenson

Referee: R Poite (FFR)

Attendance: 23,866