Match Reaction - Susie Appleby

By Mark Stevens
1/5/23

Susie Appleby spoke of her pride after the Exeter Chiefs Women were crowned back-to-back Allianz Cup champions with a 29-19 victory over Saracens Women at Sandy Park.

A year after lifting the inaugural cup crown, the Chiefs replicated the feat, again on home soil, with an impressive performance against the Londoners in front of almost 3,000 supporters.

Tries from Cliodhna Moloney (2), Linde van der Velden and Panache Muzambe laid the foundations for this latest success story, which head coach Appleby was quick to salute following the final whistle.

“I can’t tell you how proud I am,” she said. “It’s a different group, a younger group, but for all of them it’s massive. Look at our two young props (Abby Middlebrooke and Lizzie Hanlon), they were up against international props and didn’t look out of place. To get that result, I couldn’t be more prouder!”

With Appleby minus many of her international stars, the new-look Chiefs underlined the significant strides that have been made, even in the past 12 months.

“We’re building and we’re growing all the time, because that’s what we set out to do three years ago,” added Appleby. “For me, the biggest thing about winning a Cup is can you win it again the next year?

“Well, we’ve just done that and for us that’s massive! Last year was so special especially because it was out first piece of silverware, but every Cup win is amazing and it’s only right we celebrate it in the right way.”

Just three points separated the two sides at the break, Liv McGoverne’s penalty edging the Chiefs in front 17-14, before the home side took control in the second half.

“We were nervy, a bit like last week [at Bristol], but having that blend of young players mixing with that core group of experienced players was crucial. I checked in with Poppy [Leitch] before the game to see how everyone was and she replied ‘we’re good’.

“For all of our girls, it’s incredibly exciting to be an Exeter Chief right now and now we’ve got to use that to build for what is going to be a huge end to the season. We’re going to have our international trickle back in from the Six Nations now and that will be important because three of our next four games are top of the table clashes.

“Right now we’re sitting at the top of the league, so that puts us in the firing line as such. That said, our performances throughout the course of the season have put us there and now it’s up to us to show that we merit being there and, hopefully, get to the final again.”