Braves 47 Irish 12
Exeter Braves 47
London Irish 12
Mark Stevens at Sandy Park
Exeter Braves maintained their winning start to this season's Aviva A League, brushing aside the attentions of visiting London Irish at Sandy Park.
In a dominant display from Ricky Pellow's side, the Braves ruled the roost all evening securing maximum reward on the night thanks to tries from Kai Horstmann (2), Ed Holmes, Moray Low, Tom O'Flaherty and Joe Simmonds, who also kicked six conversions on the night.
Irish, who struggled to contain the ferocious home pack - particularly at set-piece time - countered with a score in each half from No.8 Lasha Lomidze, but they were rare highlight on a disappointing evening for the Exiles.
Looking to build on earlier wins over Harlequins and Bristol United, it didn't take the Braves long to get into their stride. Early pressure resulted in a string of five-metre scrums, the third of which saw the home pack propel their rivals back at a rate of knots, allowing Horstmann the simplest of finishes in the left-hand corner. Simmonds obliged with a testing touchline conversion to give the home side a seven-point advantage.
Minutes later and the home side threatened again, winger O'Flaherty set off on a burst from deep inside his own half, before he worked the ball to Simmonds and then to Harry Strong. The right winger blasted towards the Irish line, but was halted just short. The calvary followed in hot pursuit, but a case of 'White Line Fever' saw the Braves knock on just inches out.
Not to be deterred, the Braves continued to pile forward in numbers and they were rewarded with a second try through Ed Holmes, the flanker powering over from close range after an initial five-metre drive had been held.
It was proving one-way traffic and when the Braves entered the Irish 22 again four minutes later, it was the experienced Horstmann who again found his way over the whitewash, finishing off another well-constructed Exeter line-out drive. As before, Simmonds slotted the resultant conversion to give his side a 19-0 lead
The Braves could - and probably should - have added to their tally as the half progressed, but they let a series of gilt-edged chances go begging, allowing Irish to clear the danger and mount their own threat at the other end.
Seizing on some loose play from the home side, Irish full-back Ben Ransom poached the loose ball, he chipped in behind the stagnant Exeter backline and in the ensuing play, it was No.8 Lomidze, who brushed aside the attentions of Max Bodilly to score with the last action of the first half.
HALF TIME EXETER BRAVES 19 LONDON IRISH 5
That would prove Bodilly last meaningful action for the hosts, the Cornishman replaced at the break with a nasty looking shoulder injury.
Young Academy back Joe Elderkin was sent into the fray, as was AJ Cant - an early replacement for the injured Strong - but both could did little to stop Irish from claiming their second try of the night. Lomidze was again the scorer, this time breaking off the back of a ruck deep inside the Exeter 22, before bulldozing his way to the line for the score, which Brophy Clews converted with aplomb from the right touchline.
Any hopes of a second half revival from the Exiles, however, were quickly extinguished as the Braves hit the Londoners with a quick-fire, try double.
Centre Skinner was first to score, latching onto a pass from midfielder partner Tom Hendrickson, before Scottish international Low claimed a fifth try for the Devonians, burrowing his way over from a simple pick-and-go move. On both occasions, Simmonds slotted the extras to put his side 33-12 to the good.
Already up against it, Irish's cause was hardly helped as they lost both Lovejoy Chawatama and replacement Jacob Atkins to the sin-bin in quick succession for professional fouls.
With the numerical advantage, it was only a matter of time before the Braves struck again. Pushing hard in attack, the home side worked a lovely opening for Simmonds to latch onto a simple pop pass, before racing unopposed over 30 metres and under the sticks for the score, which he also converted.
If that was not enough for the home faithful, they had further reason to cheer with just four minutes remaining, O'Flaherty capping off an impressive display when he too turned on the after burners to replicate the score of his team-mate just moments earlier. Simmonds again converted to put the seal on a good night's work for Pellow and his young charges.
Braves: M Bodilly (J Elderkin h/t); H Strong (AJ Cant 42), T Hendrickson, H Skinner, T O’Flaherty; J Simmonds, J Maunder (W Chudley 56); M Low (J Owlett 60), S Malton (D Frost 58), G Holmes (A Hepburn h/t); O Atkins (J McRae 75), W van der Sluys; E Holmes (S Lonsdale 60), J Freeman, K Horstmann (capt).
Tries - Horstmann (2), E Holmes, H Skinner, Low, J Simmonds, O'Flaherty; Conversions - J Simmonds (6)
Irish: B Ransom; J Cokanasiga (B Loader h/t), C Hearn, L McLean, O Hassell-Collins; T Brophy Clews (J Atkins 54), R Brand (B McKibbin 59); T Smallbone (capt, A Hay 20), T Woolstencroft (T Gleave 59), L Chawatama; W Lloyd, J Basham; I Curtis-Harris (H Culverhouse 68), M Northcote-Green (J Cooke 63), L Lomidze. Replacement (not used): M Saulo
Tries - Lomidze (2); Conversion - Brophy Clews
Yellow Cards: Chawatama, Atkins
Referee: B Russell
Attendance: 839