Sandy Park, Exeter (National Division One)
Saturday, 19 April 2008 (Attendance: 4520)

Exeter: Gary Kingdom; Jason Luff; Aliaifatu Fatialofa; Stephen Ward; Sean Marsden; Adam Staniforth; Kevin Barratt; Craig Dunlea; Sam Blythe; Brett Sturgess; Tom Skelding; Chris Bentley; Tom Johnson; Alan Miller; Richard Baxter; Reps: Simon Jenkins; Dan Parekes; Lewis Stevenson; Chad Slade; Clive Stuart-Smith; Kieran Geraghty; Andy Miller

Coventry: Ben Russell; Ronnie McLean; George Dixon; Donovan Sanders; Jack Cobden; Dorrian Myles; Nathan Jones; David Maddocks; Chris Whitehead; Rob Duggard; Gregor Gillanders; Ian Nimmo; Henno Venter; Darren Clayton; Laurence McGlone; Reps: Stuart Friswell; Ricky Whitehall; Daniel Hodge; James Miller; Thomas Slater; Lee Parry; Sam Montague

A wet and windy afternoon to greet the supporters of Exeter Chiefs and their visitors Coventry for the final home game of the season at Sandy Park. The rain holds off as the teams take the field before the teams and crowd observe a minutes silence in remembrance of Bob Greenham, a stalwart of Exeter Rugby over the years.

Exeter Chiefs kick off to Coventry who immediately come under pressure and are forced to clear their lines with a kick to touch. Exeter take the resulting lineout and use powerful forward play before the ball is given to the backline to attack the Coventry midfield who are penalised for the infringement. Continued use of the forwards attack deep into the Coventry half before the move breaks down.

A strong Exeter scrum is disrupted at the base by the lively Coventry scrum half Nathan Jones who pounces on the ball before releasing Dorrian Myles into the Exeter half for the first time, and under the posts for the first score of the afternoon. A simple conversion by Ronnie McLean from under the posts makes the score 0-7 in favour of the visitors after six minutes.

Exeter respond again through the forwards into the Coventry half. Alan Miller and Tom Skelding combine well before the latter releases Gary Kingdom to score wide out on the right. His own conversion attempt is successful and the scores are level at 7-7 after 9 minutes.

Coventry force Exeter deep into their own half and they appear to be in trouble when they don’t find touch. The response is a promising Coventry attack although the ball is turned over and Exeter break away with a fine tackle by Dorrian Myles on Fatialofa saving a certain try. Quick support is on hand and Steven Ward scores wide out on the left. Kingdom is unsuccessful with the conversion and the score is 12-7 in favour of the hosts after 11 minutes.

Coventry kick the ball straight out from the restart and an Exeter scrum is awarded centre field. This allows them back into Coventry territory. Coventry have a rare chance with the ball in hand when the Exeter attack breaks down and a penalty kick to touch gives them a line deep in the Exeter half. As they spread the ball wide they are penalised for holding onto the ball in the tackle and the ball is again turned over.

The Exeter pack are now dominating the tight game and again they power towards the Coventry line. Phase after phase see many of the pack going close before recycling the ball for the eventual score by prop Brett Sturgess under the posts. Kingdom converts making the score 19-7 on 20 minutes.

The return kick off sees the ball chipped back up field into the Coventry half catching them napping. Jason Luff is unable to control the ball cleanly at pace but it goes backwards and Kevin Barratt gathers to score the bonus point try. Kingdom converts making the score 26-7 after 22 minutes.

Coventry are more alert to the Exeter attack following the restart but appear to have little in the way of response. Frustrations begin to show and Darren Clayton throws a swinging arm which gives Exeter a penalty. He receives a talking to but is lucky not get a yellow card. Exeter again plays tight and a strong forward effort is driven over from ten metres out with the try being awarded to Sam Blythe fifteen metres infield. Kingdom is again successful with the conversion making the score 33-7 after 27 minutes.

Exeter continue their dominance and a rare attack through the hands of the backline sees them again deep into the Coventry half. The ball is spun wide to Stephen Ward who beats three defenders for a good score wide out on the left, his second of the afternoon. Kingdom is unsuccessful with the conversion into a strong wind and the score is 38-7 after 30 minutes of the first half.

Coventry eventually have a chance with the ball in hand but the Exeter defence remain strong and they are unable to break far into the Exeter half. Turnover ball results in the ball going through the hands of the backline for Sean Marsden to score in the right hand corner. Kingdom converts and the score is now 45-7 after 33 minutes in what is becoming a rout with seven first half tries.

Coventry dig deep and find some inspiration working the ball successfully into the Exeter half. Good forward play from their pack sees them just short of the Exeter line before releasing the backs. They are penalised again for holding on after the tackle and Exeter once again clear their lines.

Alan Miller and Richard Baxter drive the pack forward despite some strong tackling by Coventry’s Donovan Sanders and Laurence McGlone before Adam Staniforth kicks into space behind the Coventry backline. The ball goes into touch and the half is brought to a close with the scores at 45-7 in favour of Exeter.

The teams return to the field with Ben Russell being replaced by Lee Perry for Coventry whilst Kieran Geraghty replaces Stephen Ward and Chad Slade replacing Richard Baxter for Exeter.

Coventry manage to get into the Exeter half early on although the ball is turned over by Alan Miller and the ball is run back deep into the Coventry half by Craig Dunlee who tries to release Fatialofa with the move coming to an end just short of the Coventry line.

Coventry are clearly frustrated and despite being awarded a penalty a fracas breaks out after 8 minutes of the second half. Coventry lose prop David Maddocks to the sin bin and the penalty is reversed into Exeter’s favour. At the next breakdown Coventry’s Henno Venter is sacrificed to allow Ricky Whitehall on into the front row.

Coventry struggle to get out of their own half as Exeter push up forcing the errors as the ball is spread wide. Exeter again turnover the ball and attack through the forwards with Tom Skelding again showing well with support from Alan Miller and Chris Bentley. A scrum is awarded to Exeter five metres out and continued harrying from Nathan Jones wins the ball back for Coventry for an attack before the move again breaks down just short of the half way line. Exeter replaces Brett Sturgess and Sam Blythe with Dan Parkes and Simon Jenkins respectively on 56 minutes.

Coventry now defend as if their lives depended on it but the fresh legs of Dan Parkes drive towards the Coventry line. The ball is recycled and held up for a five metre scrum to Exeter. The ball is played to the backs and Fatialofa with the line at his mercy fails to hold onto the ball allowing Coventry to clear. David Maddocks and Henno Venter return to the field and Coventry also bring on Daniel Hodge replacing Gregor Gillander on 59 minutes.

Jamie Miller replaces Darren Clayton in the Coventry back row on 64 minutes as they continue to look for a response to the powerful Exeter forward display. Exeter again push forward into the Coventry half and some powerful tackling brings the move to an end before Sam Montague replaces Jack Cobden in the Coventry backline on 67 minutes.

However, Exeter are lacking the fluency that they had in the first half and a promising Coventry backline attack through the hands beats a brave defensive effort for George Dixon to score wide on the left. Ronnie McLean is unsuccessful with the conversion and the score is 45-12 after 68 minutes.

The impressive Tom Skelding is replaced by Lewis Stevenson and Kevin Barratt gives way to Clive Stuart-Smith for the restart. Exeter play the ball back into the Coventry half and are met with a physical defence. A drive for the line is held up and Exeter is awarded a five metre scrum and another attacking opportunity although the defence holds out.

As the game draws towards the final five minutes another Exeter attack goes begging when a clever kick over the top by Sean Marsden sees the ball go dead. There is an anxious moment as one of the Coventry players hits the advertising hording hard which results in a stoppage in play. Coventry restart and force Exeter back into the middle third before Fatialofa is then forced to leave the field through injury on 78 minutes.

One last attack sees Exeter kick a penalty deep into Coventry territory and win the resulting lineout. The tight forward play which has been so successful today powers over the line but today’s official Keith Lewis adjudges it held up before bringing the game to a close.

Today’s official man of the match being awarded to Sean Marsden, but for Exeter it was certainly a game of two halves with the final score 45-12.