Hodge targets response at Bath

By Mark Stevens
1/3/21

Josh Hodge says Exeter Chiefs will look to take the positives from their display at Sale Sharks last Friday and use them as the foundation for their preparation ahead of this weekend’s Westcountry derby away to Bath in the Gallagher Premiership (3pm).

Rob Baxter’s side slipped to a second successive league defeat, going down 25-20 to Alex Sanderson’s Sharks at the AJ Bell Stadium.

In a spirited display from the Devonians, one in which they had to play almost an hour with 14 men following the dismissal of skipper Jack Yeandle, Hodge knows he and his team-mates came within a whisker of claiming a hard-fought victory on the road.

With the clock deep in the red – and the Chiefs have gone from one end of the field to the other in a gutsy late rally – the Sharks were able to hold at bay the defending champions as they looked to snatch a last-gasp success.

“It’s always going to be tough away to Sale, especially playing a lot of the game with 14 men,” said the gifted young full-back at the final whistle. “All credit to the boys, we put in a top effort for a lot of the game and we’ll look to take the positives as we came so close in the end.”

Although defeated, the Chiefs remain second in the current Premiership standings, just six points adrift of leaders Bristol Bears at the halfway point of the season.

However, Hodge says Friday’s performance must be banished to the history books quickly as focus quickly switches to Saturday’s impending trip to the Recreation Ground.

“It was important we came away with something in the end,” added the 20-year-old back. “It was tough out there, especially playing with 14 men, but now we have to move on. We have to take the positives from this game and work on them, as well as fix the negatives before going into the Bath game.

“Again, it will be tough against them. This is a tough division, every side offers you a real challenge, so we have to be ready to meet that threat.”