After
a first forty when the Cornish Pirates had outplayed their hosts, it was a different
story right from the start of the second half as the clinical Chiefs cut loose
in style, to comfortably secure their victory long before the final sound of the
referee's whistle. There were many who travelled to
a cold and sunny Sandy Park who felt that a home win was always the likely outcome,
as the Pirates have been bedevilled by injuries, Yes, they have put those problems
aside to record a number of worthy wins of late, but to notch one up against a
second-placed Exeter side was probably too tough a call. Or was it?  Matt
Jess Chases Marika Vakacegu | After
the Pirates had soaked up quite considerable pressure in the opening ten minutes
of the game, they then proceeded to dominate events. A
counter attack by full-back Marika Vakacegu raised hopes of an opening score,
but the visitors were denied by former 'Pirate' wingman Matt Jess whose alert
cover at the left corner helped avert the danger. Just minutes
later, another scoring opportunity looked 'on', as fly-half Simon Whatling unlocked
Exeter's defence. However, after the ball went through the hands of colleagues,
the chance was squandered as unmarked centre Tom Luke remained unspotted on the
left |
It then looked then as if
the Pirates would be made to pay for their lack of finishing ability, but a cross
field kick to Exeter's dangerman wing, Josh Drauniniu, just avoided his clutches. 
Heino Senekal A Busy Performer | Making
light of the threat, the Pirates proceeded to immediately reapply pressure upon
their opponents, with prop Peter Cook and lock Heino Senekal busy performers.
Playing with the breeze, but towards the lowering sun,
Vakacegu was assured when tested under the high ball, and the centre partnership
of Luke and Mark Ireland demanded full attention. A kick
and chase by wing Brian Tuohy forced Exeter's scrum-half Clive Stuart-Smith to
scurry back on the right, for the Pirates to be then awarded a scrum. The ball
was worked cleanly from the set-piece, enabling Luke, No. 8 Chris Morgan, and
Luke again to make yardage. |
This was surely try time,
which it would be, but with it the Exeter the team who were about to score. The
Pirates had strived to make mounted pressure tell, but it was a sudden loose pass
that enabled the Chiefs to take clinical advantage. Breaking free from the applied
stranglehold, the ball reached Drauniniu on the left, with all in the main grandstand
risinge to their feet in anticipation. Everyone knew what he was capable of, and
for the Exeter faithful he did not disappoint, as with a display of power and
pace he made light of tackle attempts to score an unconverted try at the corner. The
scoreline did not reflect the overall play, but with just over half an hour gone
the Pirates were given a chance to kick a penalty and now get some points of their
own. Unfortunately, however, Whatling's effort from 32 metres out missed, as did
a second easier opportunity that followed soon after. To arrive at the
break 5-0 down was a disappointment, but it had been an enthralling first forty,
with the capacity crowd all waiting to see what the second half would bring. Well,
for Chiefs supporters the second period would truly bring seasonal joy, which
was a mighty contrast to that about to be experienced by the Pirates. Quick
out of the blocks, Exeter upped the tempo immediately as Drauniniu spotted two
forwards to circumnavigate and give his side some immediate go forward. When the
ball was swiftly recycled fly-half Gareth Steenson delicately chipped the ball
into space for centre Paul McKenzie to gather and score. Steenson also added the
conversion. The Pirates proceeded to make errors not seen in the first
half, with their frustration increasing as Steenson's kicking game out of hand
was about to further wound former colleagues. This time it was a gorgeous grubber,
pounced on by full-back Sean Marsden who touched down over the line. If
the Pirates were to have any chance in this match, they needed to score next,
but it was not to be, as Marsden soon claimed his second try of the afternoon,
it a bonus point effort converted by Steenson. 
Rhodri McAtee, ran half the length of the field | Into
the last quarter, some slick play from the Chiefs was finished off by Jess, with
replacement fly-half Danny Gray converting, it a period when replacements galore
were introduced. For the Pirates, one of them, wing Rhodri
McAtee, incercepted to run half the length of the field for a converted try. A
consolation effort? No, not really. To finish the afternoon
off, young man of the match centre Tom Bedford had options galore as he broke
into the Pirates half, him ultimately deciding to simply pin back his ears and
score a final converted try of the afternoon, and it one which delivered to the
clinical Chiefs a comprehensive victory. |
Exeter
Chiefs:
S. Marsden, M. Jess, P. McKenzie, T. Bedford, J. Drauniniu (W.
Kelly 67),
G. Steenson (D. Gray 67), C. Stuart-Smith (K. Barrett 75), R. Baxter
(capt), R. Pugh, T. Johnson (C. Cracknell 61),
T. Hayes, L. Stevenson (D.
Tuohy 61), C. Budgen (J. Andress 60), S. Blythe (S. Nelson 72), B. Sturgess. Cornish
Pirates:
M. Vakacegu, P. Devlin (J. Moore 75), M. Ireland, T. Luke (S.
Winn 65), B. Tuohy (R. McAtee 61),
S. Whatling (R. Jones 61), N. Griffiths,
C. Morgan, I. Motusaga (B. Stroud 61), S. Betty,
B. Gulliver (capt), H. Senekal,
S. Heard (D. Seal 47), D. Dawidiuk, P. Cook (P. Andrew 79). Scorers: Exeter
Chiefs
Ttries: Marsden (2), Drauniniu, McKenzie, Jess, Bedford; cons: Steenson
(2), Gray (2). Cornish Pirates
Try: McAtee; con: Jones. Referee:
Lyr Apgeraint-Roberts (RFU). Attendance: 7,348.
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