Bears 14 Braves 36

Bristol Bears 14

Exeter Braves 36

Mark Stevens at Station Road

Exeter Braves returned to winning ways in this season’s Premiership Rugby Shield, securing maximum reward from their local derby against Bristol Bears.

Ricky Pellow’s side ran in five tries on the day, two in the first half through Josh Caulfield and Kyle Cooper, before Arthur Relton, Stu Townsend and Shea Cornish completed the job with touchdowns after the break.

Harvey Skinner converted four of them, as well as adding a second half penalty, to complete the job for the Devonians.

In reply, the Bears countered with converted tries from Max Lahiff and Tyrese Johnson-Fisher, but it was never enough to dent the Braves, whose victory moves them back to the top of the Southern Conference.

Having seen their winning streak come to an end against defending champions Saracens Storm last Sunday, the Braves were hoping the short trek up the M5 would help them to quickly rediscover their winning formula.

Pellow’s side were boosted by the return of several experienced heads up front. Cooper, Matt Kvesic and Will Witty, the latter starting his first game in Exeter colours, were all added to the mix, whilst behind Townsend skippered a back division, whose other changes saw young Arthur Relton given the nod on the right wing with Phil Dollman returning at full-back after injury.

The Bears, meanwhile, were also able to parade a strong line-up, which included Irish international Ian Madigan in the centre, while in the home pack Jordan Crane, Luke Hamilton and Lahiff were all given a chance to impress.

With both sides looking to attack from the outset, the opening quarter was restricted to a straight-forward hit-up, one in which defences dominated proceedings.

Bristol full-back Mat Protheroe came the closest to breaking the game’s deadlock on 12 minutes, but he was held up by some scramble defence from Relton and Dollman.

The Braves survived the home threat and minutes later they showed their rivals how it should be done, flanker Caulfield steaming his way over from close range after a clutch of Exeter defenders had caught Rob Hurrell dithering in his own 22.

Skinner converted that score and Exeter’s second, which came courtesy of on-loan Newcastle Falcons hooker Cooper, who spotted a yawning gap in the home defence to chug over from 15 metres out.

It was no more than the Braves deserved for their efforts, but with the Bears trying to turn the screw at scrum time in particular, it was the home side who cut the deficit on the half-hour mark, Lahiff burrowing over from close range after a sustained spell of Bristol pressure. Ioan Lloyd converted to ensure maximum reward.

Bristol looked to level things up before the break, but Pellow’s side stood firm in defence and were able to stave off any remaining threat with relative ease.

HALF TIMEBRISTOL BEARS 7EXETER BRAVES 14

The early exchanges of the second half were restricted largely to a kick battle - in which both sides were looking to gain the ascendancy in terms of territory - but when play finally broke out, it was the fleet-footed Dollman who got the Braves on the move.

The Welshman, who enjoyed a fine afternoon on his return to action, skipped his way through the middle of the home defence before finding Townsend, who in turn offloaded to Kvesic. Perfectly positioned deep inside the Bears 22, the Braves continued their attacking assault.

Having won the penalty, they used the advantage to go wide to the right, where Kvesic was able to find Relton. Still with a bit to do, the younger winger stepped inside off his wing before showing good strength to drive over for Exeter’s third try of the game.

It was a healthy enough buffer for the visitors, but when the Bears hit back on 55 minutes, Johnson-Fisher stepping inside James Short to score under the posts, it was game on as the match headed into the final quarter.

Sensing they had the edge at scrum time, the Bears looked to apply the squeeze up front against a youthful Exeter front-row. Thankfully, any indiscretions from the Braves were too far from the target and when the pressure relented, it was the visitors who extended their lead with a penalty from Skinner.

Throwing caution to the wind, the Bears looked for a way back into the match. They threw everything at the Braves in a desperate show of defiance, but their efforts were all in vain as the visitors - marshalled superbly by Tom Hendrickson repelled their every move.

Indeed, having soaked up the pressure, the Braves went down the other end and won a scrum penalty of their own. Rather than opt for the various set-piece options, Kvesic tapped from close range, his fellow forwards followed him in, before Townsend picked up from the base of a close-range ruck to grab the all-important bonus point score.

Even then, the visitors weren’t finished and with the final play of the game they secured their success with a fifth try. Dollman was the architect, fielding a Madigan clearance before slicing his way through the heart of there Bristol backline. He drew in the cover, before shipping the pass to the waiting Cornish, who needed no second invitation to ghost over.

Skinner’s successful conversion helped to administer the last rites to the now beleaguered Bears.

Bears: M Protheroe; T Johnson-Fisher (H Ascherl 72), W Hurrell, I Madigan, C Powell; I Lloyd (T Pincus h/t), N Stirzaker (B Boyland 70); J Lay (O Dawe 50) G Kloska (T Lindsay 63), M Lahiff (N Thomas h/t); J Hawkins, J Dun; L Hamilton, A Choat (S Graham 11), J Crane (capt, C Rice 75).

Tries - Lahiff, Johnson-Fisher; Conversions - Lloyd, Madigan

Braves: P Dollman; A Relton (S Cornish 70), T Wyatt (S Morley 55), T Hendrickson, J Short; H Skinner, S Townsend (capt, J Snow 77); D Southworth (H Dunn 75), K Cooper (H Wilkinson 54), M Johnson (W Norton h/t); W Witty (L Pearson 67), T Price; J Caulfield, R Capstick (J McRae 67), M Kvesic.

Tries - Caulfield, Cooper, Relton, Townsend, Cornish; Conversions - Skinner (4); Penalty - Skinner

Referee: B Russell

Attendance: 300