Exeter Chiefs 42 - Bedford Blues 19
Jan
Exeter Chiefs reinforced their winning habit with a six-try demolition of a weakened but determined Bedford outfit in a highly entertaining encounter.
Within a minute of kick-off, the Blues conceded a penalty just inside their own half, but Gareth Steenson pushed the kick left of the posts. Bedford looked to offload from their first period of possession and with Chiefs also moving the ball, an open game looked in prospect on a perfect day for it. Chiefs retained good position and when they won a penalty inside the Bedford 22, they opted for the lineout and drive which seemed to cross the line rather easily, Chad Slade getting the touch down. Steenson converted off the post.
After a scary moment with the ball skidding around inside the home 22 when a Blues kick was not caught, Chiefs resumed an increasing dominance. Steenson made a promising break but after a couple of pairs of hands the ball went to ground under pressure. Bryan Rennie crossed but top referee Chris White brought play back. Chiefs looked enterprising in possession from an increasingly secure forward platform, while Bedford, looking pedestrian and clearly missing the pace and penetration of the likes of Brendan Burke, resorted to some inaccurate kicking.
The second try came on 22 minutes from a lineout on the left of the Chiefs’ 22. A long throw was collected by Chiefs who broke through the middle. After some off-loads, Foster found space and put Matt Jess away from 30 metres out; Steenson converted.
Soon the Chiefs pack pushed a scrum 10 metres before Steenson made a break and Andy Miller took the inside pass. Bedford conceded a penalty at the first ruck, and found themselves back on their line. Another drive was finished by Richie Baxter; Steenson converting from wide on the right.
Forwards and backs alike were now punching spectacular holes through the opposition defence, and off-loading freely, with man of the match Neil Clark particularly prominent. Just before half-time, another flowing Chiefs move was stopped just short of the line, and Chiefs opted to hold the ball in the ruck and form a drive with predictable bonus point results; Clark scoring and Steenson converting.
The second half began as the first had finished, but Foster was just in touch as he crossed. Bedford showed they would not lie down with their best spell of the game, with half-time replacements Paul Tupai and Phil Boulton making a difference, and Chiefs’ tackling lacked the aggression of the first half. It was no surprise when Tupai was driven over from close range on 57 minutes. The substantially replaced Chiefs responded immediately, forcing play to the opposition line which resulted in some up-front niggle. Eventually Saul Nelson forced his way over after yet another drive, and Danny Gray added the points.
In the last 10 minutes, Chiefs started to look slightly ragged as tiredness and injuries led to gaps and broken play. Bedford scored again on 75 minutes as Luke Fielden found himself all on his own on the right wing, and passed inside for Chris Locke to score; James Pritchard converting. Chiefs could not up their game this time, and back came the Blues to drive over under the posts, Tupai again being the man on the spot; Pritchard converted.
Chiefs were not finished though. They dragged themselves towards the Bedford posts and after a series of close-range surges and with everyone expecting yet another drive, Haydn Thomas darted through the very large gap and round under the posts for Gray to convert with the last kick of the match.
Exe supporters stayed to give warm support for a presentation to Richie Baxter for the outstanding achievement of 300 league games for his one club.
Teams:
Exeter Chiefs – Marsden; Jess (Sestaret 58mins), Dollman (Jess 68mins), Rennie, Foster; Steenson (Gray 62mins), Stuart-Smith (Thomas 46mins); Sturgess (Moon 70mins), Clark (Nelson 55mins), Tui (Budgen 55mins), Hayes (capt) (Gannon 58mins), Hanks, Slade, Andy Miller, Baxter
Bedford Blues – Pritchard; Fielden, Knight (Roberts 23mins), Vass, Taylor; Dorrian, Chudley; Walsh (Cecere 54mins), Richmond (capt) (Locke 68mins), Seal (Boulton 41mins), Harlock (Tupai 41 mins), Rae, Gillanders (Lewitt 54mins), Brightwell, Goodman.
Officials:
Ref – Chris White; TJs: Rowan Kitt, Gareth Copsey.
Scorers:
Exeter Chiefs – Tries: Slade, Jess, Baxter, Clark, Nelson, Thomas; Cons: Steenson (4), Gray (2).
Bedford Blues – Tries: Tupai (2), Locke; Cons: Pritchard (2).
Attendance:
3,781
