Chiefs 50 Dragons 24
Exeter Chiefs 50
Dragons 24
Mark Stevens at Sandy Park
In the second part of the Exeter Double Header, the Chiefs underlined their credentials for the upcoming season by brushing aside the attentions of the visiting Dragons at Sandy Park.
Having watched a number of his first team squad dispatch the Cornish Pirates 47-15 in the opening game of the day, Director of Rugby Rob Baxter then witnessed his second group do an equally impressive job against the Welsh region.
In what was a nip-and-tuck first half - one in which the Chiefs led 21-14 at the break, thanks to a penalty try and further touchdowns from Olly Woodburn and Max Bodilly - it was in the second period where the reigning English champions really kicked into overdrive.
Sam Simmonds, Thomas Walfrom, Gareth Steenson, James Short and Michele Campagnaro all found their way onto the scoresheet as the class of the Premiership outfit proved too much for their Pro 14 opponents.
Adam Warren helped himself to a brace of tries for the visitors, whilst there were further scores for Sarel Pretorious and Adam Hughes, but it was never enough to really hurt the Chiefs.
Running out for the second of the two games in this Saturday double-header, this latest Chiefs outfit had a familiar feel to it with ten of the starting XV having featured in the club’s Premiership triumph over Wasps at Twickenham back in May.
Hooker Jack Yeandle led an experienced home line-up, which also included a first start in Exeter colours for Aussie international Nic White, who was one of six new faces brought to Sandy Park during the close season.
The Dragons, meanwhile, arrived in Devon without their star summer signing Gavin Henson due to injury, but did include in their line-up former Chiefs back Hughes on the right wing.
Sporting their new pink Cup kit for the contest, the Premiership outfit were quickly into their stride, establishing a dominance up front that put them to within strike range of the Dragons line. Although thwarted initially, the resultant scrums saw the visitors come under heavy pressure, all of which eventually led to referee Anthony Woodthorpe awarded the home side a penalty try.
Home joy proved short-lived, however, as the Welsh region responded almost immediately with a score of their own. Positioned nicely with a scrum centre field, they fashioned an opening for Warren to collect at pace, before turning on the after burners and racing in under the sticks to score. O’Brien slotted the easy conversion to tie things up.
Somewhat ring-rusty due to it being their first hit-up, the Chiefs were guilty of trying to over complicate things at times, whilst some of their handling was a little suspect at times as they looked to play at an intensity the Dragons would struggle to cope with.
When they did it get it right, however, the results were hugely impressive and they were duly rewarded with a second try when Bodilly came into the line at pace, before drawing in the cover and offering a simple offload to winger Woodburn, who did the rest with a simple finish in the right corner.
England international Slade, handed the No.10 jersey over Twickenham hero Gareth Steenson, slotted a sublime touchline conversion to put his side back in front once more.
Again, though, the Chiefs could not hold onto their slender advantage, this time gift wrapping the visitors a second try. Having failed to deal with a line-out, the Dragons worked the ball back inside to O’Brien, whose clever kick over the top initially appeared to be covered by White. However, as the new scrum-half looked to mop up the danger, it bounced away from him and into the path of Warren, who was able to dot down for his second of the afternoon.
Thankfully, the Chiefs wasted little time in regathering their thoughts, responding again with a powerful attacking thrust that brought them further reward before the interval. Using the forwards to put the Dragons on the back foot, it allowed them quick, front-foot ball that they used to deadly effect, working it wide to the left where Bodilly was able to squeeze over in the corner. Slade again showed his class, nudging over another testing touchline kick.
With half time fast approaching, the Chiefs looked to add to their tally. James Short caused havoc with one of his trademark bursts, whilst Sam Skinner and Yeandle both threatened as Baxter’s side looked to propel themselves over by the posts.
Sadly, it was not to be and had they been a little more patient they may well have found some reward. Instead, they were guilty of rushing things and almost came unstuck when Warren plucked off a Slade pass before setting off on a rate of knots. Thankfully, there was enough cover defence to repel the threat on this occasion.
HALF TIME EXETER CHIEFS 21 DRAGONS 14
Although they were unlucky not to add to their tally before the break, it took the English champions just two minutes to make their mark on the resumption. Using their tried-and-trusted, five-metre line-out drill, the ‘Men in Pink’ duly delivered, forming together as one to send Simmonds over the whitewash. Slade again added the extras to stretch the home side’s lead out to two converted scores.
The Chiefs appeared comfortable enough in attack, but defensively they were exposed a number of times by the Welshmen, who hit them with two quickfire tries to pull them back to within just four points.
First to cross was Hughes when he outfoxed opposite number Woodburn to score in the left corner, then replacement Pretorious marked his first real touch of the ball by touching down close to the line after he out-jumped Bodilly following a chip kick over the top.
Any hope of a Dragons revival, though, were quickly extinguished as the Chiefs clicked back into life with deadly effect. Replacement No.8 Waldrom showed his try-scoring exploits had not diminished over the summer months when - not for the first time in his Exeter career - he rumbled over from a five-metre line-out.
Steenson, who added the extras to that score, then got in on the act himself when he was able to glide through a yawning gap in the visiting defence to add a sixth try for the hosts, who now led 40-24.
It was no more than the Chiefs deserved for their efforts, but they were far from finished. Such is the ruthless nature of Baxter’s side, they wanted to finish this friendly with a real statement.
The Dragons did well to repel another five-metre line-out as the Chiefs looked poised to score, but when the Devonians threatened once more, they could not hold back the Exeter swell. Visiting flanker Nic Cudd was dispatched to the sidelined for the final minutes of the match for persistent infringing - and with the extra man the Chiefs made it pay as over went Short from a well-rehearsed backs move.
With the job already done and dusted, the Chiefs looked to use the final minutes of the match to merely put the icing on the cake. They pushed hard in attack, but almost came unstuck when Dorian Jones picked off a Bodilly pass on halfway to scamper clear to the line. Thankfully, the officials had picked up the visitors being offside and the home full-back was spared any blushes on this occasion.
All in all, it was a job well done by the Chiefs, who must now ready themselves for their final work-out ahead of the new season with a trip into the Principality next Friday night to face Cardiff Blues.
Chiefs: M Bodilly; O Woodburn (H Strong 74), M Campagnaro, I Whitten (G Steenson 46), J Short; H Slade (S Morley 64), N White (J Maunder 48); B Moon (B Keast 59), J Yeandle (capt, S Malton 48), H Williams (T Francis 48); D Dennis, J Hill (W van der Sluys 74); S Skinner (D Armand 59), D Armand (T Waldrom 48, S Skinner 70), S Simmonds (E Holmes 76).
Tries - Penalty Try, Woodburn, Bodilly, S Simmonds, Waldrom, Steenson, Short, Campagnaro; Conversions - Penalty Try, Slade (2), Steenson;
Dragons: Z Kircher (A Warren 68); A Hughes (W Talbot-Davies 59), A Warren (C Meyer 46), J Dixon (C Meyer 28-32, C Edwards h/t), H Amos (J Rosser h/t); A O’Brien (D Jones 50), C Davies (S Pretorious 50); B Harris (L Garret 50), G Ellis (E Dee h/t, G Ellis 76), D Suter (L Brown 15); M Screech (M Williams 35, M Screech 56), R Landman (M Williams 59); J Thomas, N Cudd, R Blake (J Benjamin 50).
Tries - Warren (2), Hughes, Pretorious; Conversions - O’Brien (2)
Yellow Card: Cudd
Referee: A Woodthorpe.
Attendance: 8,604
