Blues 21 Chiefs 20
Cardiff Blues 21
Exeter Chiefs 20
Mark Stevens at the Arms Park
English champions Exeter Chiefs were given a stark reminder of what lies ahead this season as they were toppled by Welsh rivals Cardiff Blues in their final pre-season fixture at the Arms Park.
With the tag of title holders being displayed proudly around their necks following their heroics at HQ back in May, Rob Baxter and his side will need little reminding that with such rewards comes additional pressure.
Whereas previously they have happily been one of the Premiership prized hunters, now they have suddenly become the hunted for all and sundry.
The Blues duly took their chance to take a prized scalp, claiming victory through a brace of tries from winger Aled Summerhill, alongside points from the boots of Steve Shingler and Jarrod Evans.
In reply, the Chiefs countered with converted tries of their own through Don Armand and Sam Simmonds, whilst Henry Slade always kept them in touch with a series of successful kicks. In the end, though, it was not enough and Baxter and his team will need to work hard this week to finalise a game plan ready for their seasonal opener.
In their final run-out before the start of their Premiership title defence at Gloucester in a week’s time, it was a tried and trusted playing unit that Baxter sent into battle in the Welsh capital.
Full-back Phil Dollman, back in his native homeland, was making his first start of the new season - and he was one of 11 players in their starting line-up for the visitors, who had been involved in May’s final success over Wasps at Twickenham.
The Blues, meanwhile, had former Exeter players Damian Welch and Tom James in their match-day squad, alongside British & Irish Lions winger Alex Cuthbert, playmaker Shingler and the dangerous Matthew Morgan at full-back.
Keen to build on the successes of last weekend against both the Cornish Pirates and the Dragons, it was a somewhat cagey start from the Chiefs. Early exchanges were largely restricted to the battle up front, before the hosts took the lead on nine minutes.
The Chiefs, looking to clear their lines following some sustained Blues pressure, fed the ball inside to Ian Whitten, who was subsequently pulled up by referee Ben Whitehouse for holding on in the tackle. It allowed Shingler his first kick at the target and the Cardiff marksman made no mistake, drilling his effort from the 22m line between the sticks.
Home joy proved short-lived, however, as the Chiefs responded almost immediately. Using their juggernaut pack to propel them down field with a succession of pick-and-go drives, the pick of which came from No.8 Simmonds, the ball was eventually worked into the hands of Armand, who drove over from close range for the opening try, which was converted by Slade.
Two minutes later and the visitors threatened again, this time prop Ben Moon leading the charge with a marauding run through the middle of the pitch, before throwing a cat-flap pass to scrum-half Nic White who was chasing in hot pursuit. Sadly, the Aussie could not make the most of the opportunity as he slipped just shy of the home 22, before being engulfed in a sea of home defenders.
Cardiff duly made the most of the let-off, before regaining their lead on 17 minutes. Welsh international Morgan was the instigator, showing some fancy footwork to leave a trail of Exeter defenders in his wake before offloading to Summerhill, who stepped in off the left wing to glide over the line for the try, which Shingler was able to add the extras to.
The two sides continued to tear into one another, particularly up front, before the Chiefs claimed their second try of the game just past the half hour mark. A booming Slade penalty to the corner set up a five-metre line-out, the fruits of which resulted in Simmonds burrowing his way over for the converted score.
Baxter’s side had half chances to add to their tally before the break, but it was the Blues who held firm to keep themselves within touching distance at the interval.
HALF TIME CARDIFF BLUES 10 EXETER CHIEFS 14
On the resumption, the Chiefs were quickly into their stride. Another sublime penalty kick to the corner from Slade set up camp deep inside the Blues 22, but after the initial drive was thwarted illegally by the home side, the Exeter eight couldn’t quite force it over on the next attempt, spilling the ball just inches from the home line.
The Chiefs continued to press forward and were rewarded just moments later when, following a Dollman break from deep, the Blues were adjudged to have infringed at a ruck bang in the middle of their half. This time Slade declined the corner option, instead drilling a lengthy kick between the home posts to extend his side’s lead.
Both sides started to empty their benches in a bid to get vital game minutes into more of their squad and it was Blues replacement Jarrod Evans, who provided the spark for the Welshmen to claim their second try of the game. His clever kick over the head of Olly Woodburn fell invitingly into the arms of Summerhill, who was able to gather and cruise over for his second of the night.
Cardiff continued to hold the greater attacking threat and they came within a whisker of taking the lead on the hour mark, fashioning a clever move out wide on the left. Thankfully, the visitors survived the raid when all-action flanker Josh Navidi knocked on with the line in sight.
Undeterred, the Welsh region continued to threaten and they regained their lead when Evans slotted a routine penalty after the Chiefs had failed to clear a ruck sufficiently deep inside their own half.
With just a quarter of the contest to go, the Chiefs were then dealt another untimely blow when Italian centre Michele Campagnaro left the field in some discomfort with what appeared a nasty knee injury. As he lay stricken on the floor, however, his team-mates continued about their business, edging back in front from a second successful Slade penalty.
As play shunted from end-to-end, it was now the turn of the Blues to threaten once more. Owen Lane led the charge with a chip-and-chase down the right, before an excellent cover tackle from Elvis Taione felled Josh Turnbull as he looked to close in on the visiting line.
In the ensuing action, the Chiefs then lost the experienced Dave Dennis to a nasty blow to the head. Referee Whitehouse immediately halted play to allow the imposing Aussie to get treated - and when he eventually exited stage right, the Blues won a penalty from the resultant scrum that Evans nudged over to put his side back in front by a point.
With less than 10 minutes remaining, the Chiefs needed to rally hard in the dying stages. Woodburn and Short both threatened with attacking raids, but the Blues defence was standing firm under intense pressure.
Still the visitors piled forwards in nunbers with Taione and Joe Simmonds both going close, but with the English outfit set to strike, they reverted away from the tight play which had served them so well earlier in the contest, spinning the ball out wide to Gareth Steenson. The Irishman had men outside of him, but just yards from the line, he slipped and it allowed the Blues to recover.
Now up against a swarming defence, the Chiefs slipped into panic mode, forcing the ball out to Slade, whose attempted drop-goal was charged down. Again, the Blues scrambled well, forcing a turnover and with it the final whistle of the game.
For Baxter, he will have plenty to ponder in the next seven days where not only will he have to assess his walking wounded from this contest, but also working on a few teething problems ahead of their impending trip to Castle Grim.
Cardiff Blues: M Morgan (D Fish h/t), A Cuthbert (O Lane 65), G Smith (K Phillips 73), W Halaholo (H Millard 64), A Summerhill (T James 57); S Shingler (J Evans 43), L Williams (T Williams h/t); R Gill (C Domachowski 54), M Rees (K Myhill 51), T Filise (K Assiratti h/t); S Davies (M Cook 70), D Welch (J Down 60); M Cook (J Turnbull 47), E Jenkins (capt, S Bennett 60), J Navidi.
Tries - Summerhill (2); Conversion - Shingler; Penalties - Shingler, Evans (2)
Exeter Chiefs: P Dollman (L Turner 61); O Woodburn, M Campagnaro (J Short 65, J Simmonds 77), I Whitten (G Steenson 60), J Short (M Bodilly 49); H Slade, N White (J Maunder 57); B Moon (C Rimmer 51), J Yeandle (capt, E Taione 11-15, 60), H Williams (T Francis 49); D Dennis (J Salvi 71), J Hill (O Atkins 27); S Skinner (T Salmon 57), D Armand, S Simmonds (M Kvesic 57).
Tries - Armand, S Simmonds; Conversions - Slade (2); Penalties - Slade (2)
Referee: B Whitehouse (WRU)
Attendance: 4,861