Top display from Chiefs at 7s
By Mark Stevens
28/7/18
Exeter Chiefs produced a near faultless display on the opening night of this season’s Premiership Rugby 7s at Franklin’s Gardens.
Ricky Pellow’s side bagged bonus point wins in their two Pool C games against Worcester Warriors and Bath to advance into the quarter-finals of the Cup competition where they will face rivals Saracens on Saturday afternoon.
Facing the Warriors in their first encounter, the Chiefs got off to a flying start, scoring inside the first minute through James with Sam Morley adding the extras.
Exeter’s lead proved short-lived, however, as back roared the Midlanders with a converted try of their own through Mitch Tonks.
Undeterred, the Chiefs quickly regrouped and by the break led 28-7 as first Santiago Cordero raced virtually the length of the field for his first of the night, quickly followed over the whitewash by skipper Tom Lawday and Tom O’Flaherty.
In control of proceedings, Pellow took the opportunity to run his bench during the second period and although they failed to add to their tally, it was vital exposure for a number of the club’s highly-rated youngsters in front of a big crowd.
Worcester added a late second through Tonks, but by then the job was done and the Chiefs were already looking to their next clash against Bath.
Early on in that contest the Chiefs quickly set about their attacking intent, threatening inside a minute through Morley, who was penalised for holding on just shy of the Bath try-line.
A minute later, though, O’Flaherty - with a neat dummy - had no such worries as he grabbed the game’s opening try, which was converted by Morley.
Cordero doubled Exeter’s advantage with another scintillating run only for Bath to cut the arrears with a try from Levi Davis.
Any hopes of a Bath fightback were quickly doused just prior to half time when James Short claimed Exeter’s third of the game, racing in from halfway to make it 19-5 at the turn.
Although Bath countered with two score early after the restart through Partington and Doughty, there was to be no stopping the Chiefs late on as first Charlie Wright claimed his first of the tournament, then Short doubled his tally to make it 31-15.
Elsewhere in the competition, defending champions Wasps, Harlequins and Newcastle Falcons joined the Chiefs in topping their respective pools.They are joined in the knockout stages of the competition by Sale Sharks, Northampton Saints, Bath and Saracens.
Meanwhile, Leicester Tigers, Bristol Bears, Worcester Warriors and Gloucester are left to contend for the Plate.
DAY TWO FIXTURES
CUP QUARTER-FINALS
Wasps v Northampton Saints
Newcastle Falcons v Sale Sharks
Exeter Chiefs v Saracens
Harlequins v Bath
PLATE SEMI-FINALS
Gloucester v Bristol Bears
Leicester Tigers v Worcester Warriors