U18s Match Report: Bristol Bears 31 - 39 Exeter Chiefs

Exeter Chiefs U18s win on the road against a strong Bristol team. 

Chiefs won the edgy affair 39 points to 31 despite a late onslaught from their Bristol counterparts.

Bristol started the scoring within five minutes however Chiefs bounced back within two minutes with a try through centre Nick Lilley which was followed up with a penalty through fly half Freddie Hirst.

Further tries from Jed Findlay, Rhys Richards and Xan Retallack one of which converted by Hirst and a late first half score from Bristol made the half time score 25-10 to Chiefs.

Chiefs started the stronger of the two sides in the second half and converted pressure with a try from Hooker Tyler Bayley, converted by Hirst however this would be the last of Chiefs scores for a while as Bristol mounted pressure of their own with three converted tries of their own in a seven minute period to make the score 31-32 to Chiefs with ten minutes to play.

With all to play for it was Chiefs who dug deep and scored through replacement prop Albert Dowse which proved to be the last points of the game with Chiefs winning the contest 39-31.

The result means Chiefs will finish second in the South pool and will play Sale on Sunday 18th February at Kingsholm in the U18s finals day.

Bristol U18s: T Bowen; L Nancekivell (Boshoff 22'), V Worsnip (Nancekivell 52'), J Howick (Williams 43'), J Sheppard; F Fielder, C Gealy; J Davison, C Manship (Hodgson 29'), J Parkinson (Kent 50'), O Russell (Curry 62'), R Curry (Mills 43'), H Jones, K Hill, D Bartlett (Lant 35').

Tries: Sheppard 4, Nancekivell Conversions: Fielder 3

Chiefs U18s: J Findlay; N Clifford (Brano 47'), N Lilley, R Richards (Akinrowo 51'), R Williams; F Hirst, J Howard (Pengilly 51'); J Mann (Sherratt 47'), T Bayley (Hocking 47'), B Woodmansey (Dowse 47'), L Evans (Harris 26'), M Warren, T Dingle (Lewis 54'), F Rolls, X Retallack.

Tries: Lilley, Findlay, Richards, Retallack, Bayley, Dowse Conversions: Hirst 3 Penalties: Hirst

Referee: Harry Parsons