Exeter Chiefs 37 Bedford Blues 8
Exeter Chiefs booked their place in the RFU Championship final with a five-try demolition of Bedford Blues at Sandy Park.
A 76-second try from Mark Foster was followed by touchdowns from Brett Sturgess, Hoani Tui, Bryan Rennie and Paul McKenzie as the Chiefs moved a step nearer promotion to the Guinness Premiership.
It took the Chiefs just over a minute to get on the score sheet when Gareth Steenson's crossfield kick fell perfectly for Mark Foster and the former Gloucester wing ran in unopposed.
Steenson converted from the touchline and by the 10th minute Exeter were 12-0 up with Brett Sturgess muscling his way over in the corner.
Myles Dorrian pulled back three points for the Blues with a penalty but it failed to stem the dark blue tide, tighthead prop Tui burrowing over after the Exeter pack had the Bedford scrum back-pedalling.
Fly-half Steenson almost pulled off a copycat crossfield move five minutes before halftime but the ball just squirmed into touch before Nic Sestaret could get to it. However, the No 10 stretched the lead to 25-3 at the break with a penalty in front of the posts.
Rennie brought up the 30 point mark when he was put away in the corner by Neil Clark after Foster's initial break just two minutes into the second half.
Bedford valiantly chased the tries and were rewarded with Ian Davey's late score but McKenzie wrapped up matters and time ran out for the visitors, who had Luke Fielden stretchered off in a neck brace.
Exeter Chiefs:
P Dollman, M Jess, N Sestaret, B Rennie, M Foster; G Steenson
H Thomas; B Sturgess, N Clark, H Tui, T Hayes (capt), J Hanks
C Slade, J Scaysbrook, T Johnson. Reps: C Stuart-Smith (bld rep H Thomas 18-25 & 64), S Alcott, C Budgen (rep Tui 53)
R Baxter (rep Johnson 53), P McKenzie (rep Rennie 58)
D Gammon (rep Hanks 64), D Gray (rep Steenson 73).
Scorers:
Tries - Foster, Sturgess, Tui, Rennie, McKenzie
Pens - Steenson (2)
Cons - Steenson (2), Gray
Bedford Blues
L Fielden; O Dodge, B Burke, I Vass, D Taylor; M Dorrian
W Chudley; S Walsh D Richmond (capt), D Seal, M Howard
A Rae, G Gillanders, S Harding, C Goodman. Reps: I Davey (rep Dodge 44), P Boulton (rep Davey 47-57 & Seal 58), J Harlock (rep Rae 56), C Brightwell (rep Harding 56), N Walshe (rep Chudley 56), C Locke (rep Richmond 68), B Davies (rep Vass 68), Vass (rep Fielden 80).
Yellow card: Walsh 47-57
Scorers:
Try - Davey
Pen - Dorria
Referee: T Wigglesworth (RFU
Att: 4549
Blues scrum-half Nick Walshe told Bedfordshire on Sunday: “It’s always hard coming to Sandy Park and I think Exeter were just too tough for us.”
“The early try certainly didn’t help us and it’s always difficult to play catch up here. If we had managed to stay in touch then it could have been a very different ball game. Unfortunately we just weren’t good enough on the day.
“We’ve achieved a lot this season but now it is time to go away and start rebuilding in preparation for next season.”
Full story www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk
Blues full-back Luke Fielden was hospitalised following his injury late in the game in what might have been his final appearance for the club.
Fielden has reportedly signed a one-year deal with Premiership side Newcastle Falcons but left the field at Sandy Park on a stretcher after suffering a facial injury in a heavy tackle.
Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter said after the match: “It is great to be in the final, however, the guys did not celebrate at the end; they had just done a job
“The key for us is that we are in a great frame of mind at the moment and we are enjoying it. This is an opportunity for us to make a bit of history and achieve something.
“We will enjoy the next two games. We will enjoy a fantastic occasion here in front of our home supporters and look forward to going to Bristol and trying to play well there. The hardest thing will be waiting until next Wednesday; I would like to play this Wednesday!”
Full story www.exeterchiefs.co.uk
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Championship Index 09/10
