Sandy Park, Exeter (National Division One)
Saturday, 20 September 2008 (Attendance: 3724)

Exeter Chiefs: Sean Marsden; Matt Jess; Bryan Rennie; Mark Fatialofa; Josh Drauniniu; Gareth Steenson; Kevin Barrett; Chris Budgen; Neil Clark; John Andress; Lewis Stevenson; Tom Skelding; Tom Johnson; Richie Pugh; Richard Baxter; Reps: Sam Blythe; Chris Budgen; Tom Hayes; Chris Cracknell; Clive Stuart-Smith; Matt Cornwell; Alan Miller

Moseley: Dan Lavery; Daniel Norton; Jack Adams; Andy Reay; Nathan Bressington; Tristan Roberts; Gareth Taylor; Nathan Williams; Dan Oselton; Terry Sigley; Paul Arnold; Richard Stott; Neil Mason; Adam Whitney; James Rodwell; Reps: Oliver Atkinson; Jordi Pasqualin; Ben Buxton; Richard Vasey; Henry Trinder; Mark Evans; Adam Caves

A sunny afternoon at Sandy Park saw Exeter Chiefs host Moseley, the two sides sitting comfortably in the table on ten points with two wins and a loss apiece. Exeter won both encounters last season but Moseley came looking to restore the balance in an important game for both teams wanting to keep up with the early season pace setters Bedford and Leeds.

Moseley looked uncomfortable from the start as Exeter kicked off and Moseley failed to deal with the high ball resulting in an early Exeter scrum. Exeter scrum half Kevin Barrett immediately looked to expose the space but Moseley were penalised gifting Exeter an early chance at goal. What looked like a relatively simple kick for Steenson was hooked wide after only 2 minutes.

It was not long before Exeter again pushed deep into Moseley territory. Neil Clark and Tom Skelding carried the ball strongly and set up a good platform for Sean Marsden to burrow his way over in the corner for the first score of the afternoon. The boot of Steenson was again wide of the posts and the score was 5-0 with 4 minutes on the clock.

Exeter looked to capitalise on their early dominance by putting more pressure on Moseley. They looked to keep the ball tight drawing in the Moseley players until space opened up on the flanks. The ball was released to Matt Jess but a fine tackle by Tristan Roberts saved what looked to be a scoring opportunity. At the breakdown Moseley were again penalised and Steenson had another attempt in a similar position to his first kick. This time he was successful in extending Exeter’s lead to 8-0 after 11 minutes.

With the ball in hand Moseley get into the Exeter half for the first time and the attack looks promising only for Dan Lavery to be penalised for running into his own man as he joined the midfield at pace. Exeter cleared to touch from the penalty but lost the lineout and Moseley spread the ball to the midfield. Exeter gave away another penalty but this time it was Roberts who watched his kick drift agonisingly to the left of the uprights. The score remained 8-0 in favour of the hosts after 16 minutes.

Having looked the inferior side in the opening exchanges Moseley started to put some good phases of play together in the Exeter half. A scrum in midfield on the 22 gave them the perfect platform to work from. The impressive midfield pairing of Andy Reay and Jack Adams started to exploit some pace but the on loan Gloucester man made a poor pass which flier Nathan Bressington was unable to hold. Kevin Barrett was quick to distribute the turnover through the midfield and wide to Josh Drauniniu. With work to do he used his pace and jinked his way through the stretched Moseley defence from inside his own half for an outstanding try under the posts. Steenson was successful with the conversion and extended the lead to 15-0 after 22 minutes.

Moseley again looked to find space as they probed the Exeter half forcing Exeter to kill the move illegally which gifted Moseley another opportunity to get on the board. Roberts is again narrowly wide with his attempt at goal on 24 minutes but the restart resulted in the more Moseley possession. Dan Lavery again looked to hit the midfield at pace and this time he was met with a tackle that could be felt from the stands by his opposite number Sean Marsden. Whilst he received treatment and was in obvious discomfort he retained his place at the back to a warm acknowledging applause from the crowd. John Andress left the field for a blood injury and was replaced by Chris Budgen on 28 minutes.

A great break again by Marsden followed by a chip and chase saw Moseley wing Dan Norton win the race to claim the ball. Marsden and Barrett chased him down on his own line and his forced clearance kick was poor, dropping into the arms of the advancing Tom Johnson. The ball was recycled allowing Dan Parkes to go close with his low drive but Moseley were penalised. The resulting lineout saw Moseley bring the drive down illegally and referee Mark Wilson went under the posts and awarded the penalty try despite no apparent previous warning. Steenson converted to make the score 22-0 after 33 minutes.

Andress returned from the blood bin replacing Chris Budgen for the restart which Exeter failed to deal with. They conceded the penalty and this time the vaunted England Counties man Roberts was successful in the attempt at goal reducing the deficit by three points. The score was 22-3 after 35 minutes.

Barrett and Marsden continued to exploit the space and it was only due to some brave tackling from the Moseley midfield that a couple of scoring opportunities had been saved. On this occasion the Moseley back row was quicker to the breakdown with Adam Whitney and Neil Mason prominent and they turned the ball over forcing Exeter back. The two packs looked evenly matched in the set piece although it was Exeter who looked more dangerous with the ball in hand. The backs and forwards combined well as they made good ground and the ball was recycled quickly for Lewis Stevenson to score the bonus point try under the posts. Steenson converted extending Exeter’s lead to 29-3 after 39 minutes.

The restart saw Stevenson make ground with a strong run ably supported by Parkes, Richie Pugh and Tom Skelton. As Moseley retreated they lost their shape allowing Drauniniu to again outstrip the defence. He was tackled short but Marsden was again in support and received the ball to go over untouched for his second of the afternoon. Steenson again converted as the home side went in at the break with a 36-3 lead and five try’s in the bag.

Both sides returned to the field with changes and Moseley were penalised from the kick off. Exeter moved the ball quickly and it was Marsden who again found the space and his offload saw Matt Jess open his Exeter account as he went over in the corner. Steenson was successful with the conversion wide on the right which made the score 43-3 after 42 minutes.

It was certainly looking to be Exeter’s day and with the confidence growing under a comfortable lead, the ball was spread with aplomb. Every time the Exeter attack ventured into Moseley territory the defence creaked. Another break saw Steenson cross for a try as the defence parted before him. His conversion brought the score to 48-3 after 45 minutes.

Another attack saw Exeter go close but Moseley second row Paul Arnold took a player out with the line at Exeter’s mercy, which earned him a yellow card. The penalty was quickly tapped by Kevin Barrett who got onto the score sheet bringing up the 50 points. Steenson converted again and the score was 55-3 after 48 minutes.

Sam Blythe, Chris Budgen, Chris Cracknell and Clive Stuart-Smith replaced Neil Clarke, John Andress, Lewis Stevenson and Kevin Barrett respectively on 50 minutes. Moseley tried running the ball from their own third with Reay finding some rare space before releasing Adams with number eight James Rodwell and replacement scrum half Jordi Pasqualin providing the support. The Exeter defence stood strong and the ball was turned over before Adams left the field to be replaced by Richard Vasey.

Exeter pushed the ball into the corner and Norton again failed to deal comfortably with the ball in front of his own line. Pressure from Marsden and Clive Stuart-Smith forced Moseley to surrender possession and this gave Exeter a scrum platform as they searched for another score. A break from Stuart-Smith saw him caught before he could release the ball but his support went straight over the top giving Moseley a penalty and the opportunity to clear their lines.

Drauniniu looked to run the ball back but was met with a good tackle from the former Gloucester prop Terry Sigley. Ben Buxton replaced him shortly after and Exeter introduced Alan Miller and Matt Cornwall to the action as they replaced Tom Johnson and Bryan Rennie respectively. The frustration for Moseley was clearly showing and flanker Nail Mason earned himself a yellow card for illegally using his hands in the ruck to kill the ball. Steenson’s attempt at posts was successful and the Exeter lead extended to 58-3 after 65 minutes.

With the game beyond them, Moseley desperately looked for some inspiration as they mounted an attack into the Exeter third. Exeter conceded a penalty and Reay looked to release Lavery which took a tackle by Drauniniu to save the score. Exeter ran the ball from the resultant set piece and it was Moseley who again had to back pedal and reorganise. Matt Cornwell made a fine break gaining ground although the stretched defence did enough to halt the move. Quick recycling again saw backs and forwards combine with former Skelding going close against his old club with a powerful run from deep.

Another half break from Moseley sees Norton released but a strong Cornwell tackle ended the move as the support failed to get there. Exeter turned the ball over before spreading it wide again opening up the midfield before a floated pass reached Jess who used his pace and Exeter’s one man advantage to cross for his second of the afternoon. Steenson added the extras to bring the score to 65-3 after 75 minutes.

Alan Miller and Chris Cracknell looked dominant at the breakdown forcing another Moseley error. Stuart-Smith looked to break into the middle of the field before offloading to Fatialofa coming the other way catching the defence flat footed and the Samoan crossed the whitewash for another Exeter try. Steenson was unsuccessful with the conversion but Exeter had a 70-3 lead on 79 minutes.

Moseley finished the game with a flurry and got their reward when second row Paul Arnold breached the Exeter line for the only time of the afternoon with Vasey adding the extras with the last kick of the game. The final score 70-10 reflected Exeter’s dominance throughout the afternoon in what was often a one sided match. Despite the late try they should be happy with their afternoons work, and have shown what they can do when they use the ball from a solid platform. For Moseley, despite their early season success, it will be a case of regrouping and going back to the drawing board.