DMP Sharks 0 Exeter Chiefs 95
DMP Sharks Women 0
Exeter Chiefs Women 95
James Fowler at the Northern Echo Arena
This wasn’t just a win, it was a thumping!
Exeter Chiefs Women returned to winning ways in what could only be described as a demolition job, producing a ruthless display to defeat DMP Sharks at the Northern Echo Arena.
Undone in their Allianz Premier 15s opener by Gloucester-Hartpury a week ago, Susie Appleby’s side were at their ruthless best in the North East, scoring 15 tries in total.
Merryn Doidge, Clara Nielson, Katie Buchanan and Charlie Woodman all bagged a brace apiece, whilst there were further touchdowns for Maisy Allen (3), Flo Robinson, Jodie Ounsley, Silvia Turani and American internationals Rachel Johnson and Charli Jacoby.
After making their longest journey of the season, the Chiefs could be forgiven for a slightly sluggish start. In fact, it was the hosts who looked the more dangerous early on with their slick handling and offloading game really causing trouble for the visitors.
In order to settle the ship, the Chiefs resorted to their much fabled line-out drive, the fruits of which saw hooker Nielson open the visitors account from a routine catch and drive maul from just five meters out in the 15th minute.
The try seemed to spur the Chiefs into life and it wasn’t long before they were really able to open up what had been so far a stubborn DMP defence. First Doidge was able to canter in from 20 meters after slick hands had opened up a massive overlap for her to exploit; then Buchanan scored twice in two minutes, as the Chiefs left side attack just seemed to be too much for the hosts to handle.
The Chiefs still had time to bag two more tries before half-time with both Nielson and Doidge able to double their tally for the afternoon as again they found space on the right-hand side to exploit a clearly tiring DMP defence.
HALF TIME: DMP SHARKS 0 EXETER CHIEFS 36
The Chiefs started the second half as they finished the first, and it wasn’t long before they were camped on the DMP line, a place they seemed to set up residence in throughout the second half.
After a penalty was awarded to the Chiefs five metres out from the DMP line, Allen didn’t hesitate in tapping and going, and she was rewarded with her first try of the afternoon, as she bulldozed her way over the despairing DMP defenders.
Scrum-half Robinson soon got in on the scoring act, adding to the Chiefs tally, as she darted over from close range, to notch up eighth try of the game.
Having seen both her back three colleagues score doubles in the first half, summer signing Ounsley was keen to make sure she got in on the act, and her patience was eventually rewarded when she managed to squeeze over in the right-hand corner to score her first try in Exeter Chiefs colours.
Italian international Turani, fresh from Rugby World Cup duty in New Zealand, grabbed herself a debut try as she dotted down from close range, and after barely being on for a few minutes, replacement winger Woodman was able to add her name onto the try scoring list, after Doidge found Woodman on her shoulder after the full-back made a neat break through the DMP defence.
If the situation wasn’t looking bad enough for the DMP Sharks, Chiefs head Susie Appleby had now deployed her ‘bomb squad’ of World Cup players, and it wasn’t long before powerhouse American back-rower Johnson was able to barge her way over the line.
A second American international was soon on the board, as prop Jacoby burrowed her way over from close range to claim a try on her Exeter debut.
Player of the match Allen bagged her third of the afternoon deep into injury time, as she somehow managed to stay on her feet to force her way over the line, again from close range.
The Chiefs weren’t finished with the scoring however, and they certainly saved the best for last. After some neat offloading, the ball was shipped wide to Woodman, who from 60 metres out managed to round the now exhausted DMP defence to cross for what was a spectacular solo effort from the winger.
Gabby Cantorna who took over the kicking duties in the second half from Liv McGoverne was near faultless with the boot, kicking six out of her seven attempts at goal.
DMP Sharks: K Thomas-Roberts (capt); K Craine, D Phan, L Taylor, A Ishida; C Broom (J Claby 50), E Jennings; S Herrick (L Romain 55), E Brewster ( Hunter 50), C Pratt (M Gardner 50); T Churm, K Smith; T Cowan (K Colvin 25), L Thorpe, J Hazell. Replacements (not used): I Hannay, C Lacy, K Kacirkova
Exeter Chiefs: M Doidge, J Ounsley (C Woodman 53), D Preece, G Cantorna, K Buchanan; L McGoverne (R Wilkins 48), F Robinson (M MacDonald 53); P Muzambe (S Turani 49), C Nielson (C Moloney 53), L Hanlon (C Jacoby 49); N Fryday, A Fleming; E Jefferies (R Johnson 53), P Leitch (capt, L Van Der Velden), M Allen
Tries: Nielson (2), Doidge (2), Buchanan (2), Allen (3), Robinson, Ounsley, Woodman (2), Johnson, Jacoby; Conversions: McGoverne (4), Cantorna (6)
Referee: A Thomas