Storm 24 Braves 47
Saracens Storm 24
Exeter Braves 47
Mark Stevens at Allianz Park
Just like Exeter Chiefs started the season with a bang, so the Exeter Braves followed suit with a seven-try victory over Saracens Storm at Allianz Park.
Ricky Pellow’s side put up an impressive display in the capital, not only running in seven tries on the night, but showcasing the depth of the squad that exists within the Exeter ranks.
Forwards Tom Lawday and Jack Innard both bagged try doubles, while there were touchdowns for James McRae and Michele Campagnaro, alongside a first half penalty try.
Fly-half Sam Morley completed the scoring for the visitors, landing five conversions, in a polished performance from the young playmaker.
In reply, Saracens - who offered plenty throughout this absorbing televised clash - countered with tries of their own though Matt Gallagher, Tadgh McElroy (2) and Tom Whiteley, two of which were converted by Manu Vunipola, but it was never enough to deny the hungry Braves.
Having reached the final of the competition last season, only to be undone by Northampton on their own patch, it was a powerful Braves line-up that took to the field for this opening fixture of the new season.
Headlining for the visitors was summer signing Alex Cuthbert, who was pulling on an Exeter jersey for the first time since his move from Cardiff Blues.The Wales and British Lions winger has been sidelined since April after injuring a pectoral muscle in the Welsh region’s European Challenge Cup semi-final win over Pau.
He was joined in the Exeter back division by the returning Max Bodilly at full-back and Italian international Michele Campagnaro, who were themselves eager for action having missed much of last season through injury.
Saracens, meanwhile, were also able to parade a powerful line-up for the contest in North London.Duncan Taylor was making his long-awaited comeback in the centre, while up front the likes of Dom Day, Titi Lamositele and Scott Spurling offered some notable experience.
Early on, it was the Braves who started the brighter, taking the lead inside four minutes.Bodilly’s break saw him slice through the middle of the home defence, before he offload to the waiting Campagnaro.As he drew in the cover, he produced a sublime one-handed, back door pass to McRae, who was able to race in for the converted score.
Exeter’s lead would prove short-lived, however, as Saracens responded in style just minutes later with a try of their own.Full-back Gallagher was the beneficiary, finishing off a slick attack that allowed him to coast over unopposed.
As the first half headed towards the midway mark, the lively Bodilly and McRae again combined well to get the Braves on the front foot, but just as Elvis Taione looked to take up the charge, the threat was snuffed out by some scramble defence from the Londoners.
Undeterred, the Braves continued to push forward and having won a series of scrums just five metres from the home line, referee Jack Makepeace finally lost patience with the antics of the Storm, awarding a penalty try and dispatching Tom Whiteley to the sin-bin for his part in the indiscretions.
Again, Saracens summoned a response, this time hitting their Devon counterparts with a quickfire, try-double inside two minutes.Replacement hooker McElroy grabbed his first of the night when he charged over following a close-range scrum, then he repeated the feat when he was propelled over the line by a plethora of team-mates following a well-drilled catch-and-drive line-out.
Fly-half Vunipola, the cousin of Sarries and England stars Mako and Billy Vunipola, converted both scores to put his side in front for the first time.
But just as Saracens had done earlier in the match, the Braves rallied rapidly and they regained the lead with the last action of the half. A Morley penalty to the corner allowed them to set up camp just five metres from the home line - and when the ball was thrown in, it was No.8 Lawday who was aided over the line for the try, which Morley converted from the right flank with aplomb.
HALF TIME SARACENS STORM 19 EXETER BRAVES 21
The Braves replaced Cuthbert and Taione during the half time break, replacing them with Tom O’Flaherty and Jack Innard, and both were quickly into the fray as the visitors looked to add to their slender lead.
Just five minutes of the half had elapsed when the Braves claimed their fourth try.Having won a penalty inside the Sarries half, Morley again fired it towards the home 22. Wilhelm Van Der Sluys took the line-out and the inevitable drive came on. Solid, settled and straight, Sarries bodies splintered out at an alarming rate as the Braves pack drove their way to the line like a juggernaut.Unable to halt it, legally or illegally, it was Innard who peeled off from the back to squirm his way over for the bonus point score.
Saracens did their best to find a way back into the contest, threatening first through Dom Morris down the left flank, then the imposing Kpoku and replacement Ali Crossdale.The Braves, though, were holding firm, not only repelling their threat, but doing enough to win penalties and relieve the danger.
And it was from a clearance penalty that they set-up camp to score a fifth try. Richard Capstick’s line-out win allowed them to work the ball from right to left, then when they came back inside once again with a series of attacking waves, it was Campagnaro - adopting the scrum-half role - who spotted a yawning gap around the ruck to race in for the try, which Morley converted once again.
The home side were far from finished and having used a penalty of their own to get back into the Exeter 22, they worked the ball off the left flank through their back division to Gallagher, who having drawn the cover was able to ship the ball to Whiteley.Still with plenty to do, the home skipper turned on the after burners, before taking to the air to do a ‘Superman-like’ finish under pressure from Short.
Any hopes of a late fightback from the Storm, however, were soon doused as the Braves added another score with just ten minutes remaining. Using their pack to batter their way, inch by inch, to the line, it was Lawday who finally worked his way over for the converted try.
Campagnaro and O’Flaherty came close to adding another, when in a foot race with Alfie Scopes, but the Saracens replacement had just enough in the tank to race back and repel the threat late on.
It was only a momentary let-off for the hosts, who leaked a seventh try with just two minutes remaining when Innard was able to race over from a Joe Snow pass to score under the posts. Morley again obliged with the extras.
The Braves are next in action on Sunday, when Bath are visitors to Sandy Park (2.30pm). Entry is free to all season ticket holders, or tickets are available here.
Saracens Storm: M Gallagher; E Obatoyinbo (H Taylor 52), D Taylor (V Hakolo 33), R Bird-Tulloch (A Crossdale 62), D Morris; M Vunipola, T Whiteley (capt); T Lamositele (JP Phelan 58), S Spurling (T McElroy 25), H Thompson-Stringer (R Adams-Hale 52); J Kpoku (C Boon 62), D Day (A Scopes 69); J Nay, S Reffell, A Christie.
Tries - Gallagher, McElroy (2), Whiteley; Conversions - Vunipola (2)
Yellow Card: Whiteley
Exeter Braves: M Bodilly (T Williams 74);A Cuthbert (T O’Flaherty h/t), M Campagnaro, T Hendrickson, J Short; S Morley, S Maunder (J Snow 60); M Low (B Keast), E Taione (J Innard h/t), M Street (J Owlett 48); R Capstick (C Teague 71), W Van Der Sluys; J Freeman (capt), J McRae (F Elworthy 66), T Lawday.
Tries - McRae, Penalty Try, Lawday (2), Innard (2), Campagnaro; Conversion - Morley (5), Penalty Try
Referee: J Makepeace