Exeter Chiefs 36 - Moseley 19
Feb
Exeter Chiefs defeated Moseley 36-19 at Sandy Park today as they won their fifth league game in a row, helping Plymouth Albion's play-off push in the process.
Rob Baxter made a host of changes from last week's cup defeat against Leinster, though there were only three changes from the side that defeated Cornish Pirates in the last league game. There were two alterations in the front row with Sam Blythe and Hoani Tui coming in for Neil Clark and Chris Budgen, while Haydn Thomas was given the chance to impress in place of Clive Stuart-Smith at scrum-half.
The Chiefs imposed their physicality on Moseley right from the kick-off, and they looked far stronger and fitter than their opponents from one to 15. The first half was a demonstration of the ideal pack performance. Tom Hayes and his charges dominated the set-piece, bullied their opposition in contact, were far sharper in the loose, and displayed guile and finesse with ball in hand as they set the platform for a comfortable win.
The first try of the game inevitably came from the pack, though the manner of the score was not one typical of a forward's try. A neat offload from the colossal Hayes caught Moseley unaware and allowed Richie Baxter to break through the middle of the pitch. The forwards then moved the ball quickly through the hands, and their decision to offload regularly was vindicated as the powerful running of Hoani Tui helped to break yet another Moseley tackle for a score under the posts. Gareth Steenson's simple conversion was followed shortly after by a penalty, taking the lead to 10-0 and Steenson's tally to five.
The Chiefs maintained a high pace through most of the first half and were able to do so thanks to some intelligent offloading and solid rucking, which ensured the ball was always recycled quickly. A fantastic try was scored on 13 minutes as the Chiefs worked the ball from right to left, consistently breaking the gain-line before a dart and offload from Nic Sestaret put Mark Foster clear. The winger had to use all of his finishing skills as he somehow squeezed between his defender and the touchline to score.
Steenson converted a tough kick and less than 10 minutes later, he was able to slot home from a far easier position after Thomas scored under the posts. It was a bizarre try after a period of some messy rugby. A poor kick was caught by Tui and after Hayes broke, the ball came to Sestaret who knocked the ball backwards after a poor pass. The Moseley players seemed to stop, expecting the knock-on to be given, and Sestaret darted through the gaping hole left in Moseley's static midfield before offloading to Thomas.
Moseley came into the game in the last five minutes of the first as talented fly-half Tristan Roberts capitalised on some Chiefs’ errors and began to dictate proceedings in the home side's 22. Moseley showed that they have ability with the ball in hand, even though they were physically far inferior, and an elegant pass from Roberts resulted in a Justin Mensah-Coker try. The fly-half duly converted to make the score 24-7 at half-time.
Unfortunately for Chiefs' fans, Exeter took their foot off the gas in the second half, just as they did at Sandy Park previously against Bedford and Nottingham. Moseley issued an early warning sign as Roberts intercepted a loose pass from Steenson, only for the referee to pull play back for a Chiefs penalty following a stamp from No 8 Ryan Wilson. Wilson was sin-binned though the interception was a sign of sloppiness to come.
Chiefs failed to make their numerical advantage count as sustained pressure on the Moseley five-metre line was repelled by the visitors. And as the usual flurry of substitutions took place midway through the second half, the game lost the zest that was evident in the first period.
The Chiefs did manage to score two tries in the second period though, as wingers Matt Jess and Foster both cashed in. Jess's effort on 59 minutes secured the bonus point, and Gareth Steenson converted before being replaced by Danny Gray to end his game with five kicks from five. Foster once again showed his finishing prowess on 71 minutes as he dived over from close range, though Gray could not add the extras.
The Chiefs switched off from the restart and were sloppy to allow James Rodwell to score a well-taken try. And although Roberts missed the conversion, he was able to slot home after Moseley's second try in five minutes was scored by replacement hooker Nathan Williams. The Chiefs will need to improve their second half performances if they are to defeat the Championship's elite in the play-offs, though head coach Baxter will be delighted with his pack's first half performance and with the displays from outside-back trio of Sestaret, Foster and Jess.
The Chiefs travel south to face both the Cornish Pirates and Plymouth in the Anglo-Irish Cup on February 28 and March 6 respectively, before Baxter's squad has a last chance to impress before the play-offs when they entertain Birmingham-Solihull on March 13, in what is the final game of the regular season.
Teams:
Exeter Chiefs - Jones; Jess, Sestaret (McKenzie 60mins), Rennie, Foster; Steenson (Gray 60mins), Thomas (Stuart-Smith 56mins); Sturgess, Blythe (Clark 56mins), Tui (Budgen 56mins), Hayes (Capt), Hanks (Gannon 37mins), Slade (Scaysbrook 56mins), Andy Miller, Baxter.
Moseley - Catling; Gillick (Thirlby 60mins), MacBurnie, Reay (Keys 56mins), Mensah-Coker; Roberts, Gasson; Sigley (Williams 38mins), Caves (Oselton 56mins), Harden, Muldowney (Hall 75mins), Stott, Mason, Wilson (Rodwell 56mins), Pennycook.
Scorers:
Exeter Chiefs – Tries: Tui, Foster (2), Thomas, Jess; Cons: Steenson (4); Pen: Steenson.
Moseley – Tries: Mensah-Coker, Rodwell, Williams; Cons: Roberts (2)
Officials:
Ref –Darren Gamage; TJs – Ross Campbell & Mark Summerhayes
Attendance:
3,525
