Exeter Chiefs 39 Cornish Pirates 29 - Match Report

Spring arrived early at a sun-drenched Sandy Park, a capacity crowd given much to savour in witnessing nine tries scored in a sumptuous see-saw of a match.

That the Chiefs deserved their victory, there was no argument, but the Cornish Pirates supporters were far from forlorn, admiring both the effort given and the manner in which their side played this game.

The visitors got off to a dream start, a third minute penalty goal fired over by fly-half Gareth Steenson immediately followed by an unconverted try on the right, scored by wing Vunga Lilo who chased to take full advantage of an Exeter defensive fumble. Exeter's response was one of urgency, skipper Richard Baxter, who was making his 250th league appearance for his club, roared on in front of home supporters packed into the main grandstand as he burst down the right.
		'Vunga Lilo took advantage of an Exe fumble'

At a catch and drive that soon followed, Baxter rose high at the back for lock Chris Bentley to take full advantage of an exposed gap to barge his way over to the right of the posts. The conversion looked a formality, but fly-half Tony Yapp's effort unusually missed.

A quarter of an hour gone and the crowd were well entertained in what was inevitably a full-blooded, physical contest which saw Exeter flanker Tom Johnson laid low for a brief break in play.

Back to the action, the Chiefs looked to move the ball flowingly along the line at pace, only for Steenson to intercept and run half the length of the field for a try at the posts which he also converted to put the Pirates 15-5 up.

The Pirates were then penalised from the restart which gave Yapp the opportunity to reduce the arrears, which he did, with him similarly successful on the half-hour mark as Exeter started to claw their way back into the game. The Devon team's pack looked an increasingly forceful unit, the forward momentum generated looking menacing. when the ball was given width wing Josh Drauniniu picked a line to fully concentrate the Pirates defence.
		'Yapp reduced the arrears'

That the Cornishmen held out without leaking any more points before the break was a mark of their defiance. Prop Alan Paver was a leading performer in the tackling department, and at the whistle full-back Adryan Winnan vitally showed assurance under the high ball.

		If Exeter had displayed signs of being in the ascendancy at the end of the first period, then they more than confirmed it in the first four minutes of the second. Supporters were almost disbelieving of on-field events, as Exeter overhauled the Pirates and surged into a 25-15 lead thanks first to an interception try scored by Drauniniu, and then another by Baxter after quick thinking from scrum-half Clive Stuart-Smith and a telling run from centre 'Junior' Fatialofa. Yapp added the extras to both. As the Chiefs looked for the kill, good approach work by Fatialofa and Drauniniu was finished off when Yapp dummied, danced and stretched to score another converted try
'Supporters were almost disbelieving'

With the score now 32-15 it was a mighty task for the Pirates to come back into the match, a severe test to which they spiritedly responded.

Probing left and right into Exeter's half saw big carries from replacement lock Bruce Cumming, Paver and hooker Rob Elloway, and when a chink of space was found by centre Mark Ireland, support arrived in the shape of Steenson who crossed for his second try of the afternoon, one he again converted. Back in the game at 32-22, the Pirates failed to control possession from the restart as Johnson, a shrewd signing from Coventry and a deserved man of the match, powered over for a converted try which extended the home team's lead once more.
		' Big carries from Paver, Bruce Cumming, and hooker Rob Elloway'

		Still the Pirates heads refused to drop, a glimmer of hope rekindled yet again when they created a bonus point score. The Pirates threw everything they had at the Chiefs defence, Lilo and flanker Iva Motusaga making dents before replacement Rhodri McAtee darted over for a try this time converted by replacement fly-half Ollie Thomas. As the minutes ticked by there was hope of at least a second bonus point if they could get within seven points of their hosts, but it was not to be, despite each and every man straining every body sinew
' Rhodri McAtee darted over for a try'

There were no complaints at the end, all gathered having witnessed an enthrallingly skilful and exciting game of rugby, with no shortage of admiration for the players from both teams who had battled honourably and given it their all throughout.

Cornish Pirates:
15 A. Winnan, 14 J. Moore (R. McAtee 45), 13 M. Ireland, 12 S. Winn, 11 V. Lilo
10 G. Steenson (O. Thomas 63), 9 E. Fairhurst (39-41, P. Devlin 70)
8 T. Cowley (capt), 7 I. Motusaga, 6 C. Cracknell, 5 S. Hobson (B. Cumming h/t)
4 H. Senekal, 3 D. Seal (P. Cook 71), 2 R. Elloway (N. Kemp 58), 1 A. Paver.

Replacements (not used): M. Evans

Exeter Chiefs :
S. Marsden, J. Luff, J. Fatialofa (M. Fatialofa 75), W. Kelly, J. Drauniniu, T. Yapp
C. Stuart-Smith (K. Barrett 79), R. Baxter (capt), A. Miller, T. Johnson (C. Slade 70)
L. Stevenson, C. Bentley (J. Hanks 59), J. Andress (C. Dunlea 64), S. Blythe, B. Sturgess.

Replacements (not used): S. Jenkins, S. Kingsland.

Scorers:

Pirates:
Tries: Steenson 2, Macatee, Lilo
Cons: Steenson 2, Thomas
Pens:Steenson

Exeter
Tries: Bentley, Drauniniu, Baxter, Yapp, Johnson
Cons: Yapp 4
Pens: Yapp 2

Referee: Dale Newitt (RFU)

Press Gang Man of the Match: Steve Winn

Attendance 5,859