Match Preview

 Coventry

V

Exeter Chiefs

Exeter Chiefs visit Coventry this Saturday, 1st December at the start of what looks like a tough run-in to the end of 2007.  The Chiefs will be looking to consolidate their position and keep the pressure on Doncaster Knights and Northampton Saints.  Although 14 points and 8 positions separate the sides, Chiefs are 3rd with 50 and Cov 11th with 26 the Chiefs will not be taking this game lightly.  There are no games in ND1 that can be taken lightly! 

Coventry held the upper hand last season, drawing the first game held at Sandy Park and winning this fixture.  After losing to Coventry the Chiefs went on a 3 month unbeaten run.  The defaet to Coventry was one of only two in their last 20 games of last season.  The other defeat was agaisnt Leeds, who went on to get promoted.

However a lot has changed since then and the Chiefs squad has a host of new faces.  These include Kieran Geraghty and Tom Johnson who were with Cov last year.  Both are in the squad for Saturday although this was in some doubt as they were on standby for England Seven's duty.  Tom has impressed with his ball handling and speed around the pitch.  He brought off a fantastic try saving interception in last weeks game against Nottingham.  Kieran has not had much game time yet this season due to a pre-season injury but is raring to go against his old club.  He starts on the wing and comes in to replace Josh Drauniniu who is representing the Navy in the Dubai Sevens.  He'll be looking for the sort of service which has netted Josh 11 trys this season.  Jason Luff returns to the other wing after injury and will be looking to add to his 10 tries so far this season.

Chiefs squad for Saturday....

15 Sean Marsden
14 Jason Luff
13 Mark Fatialofa
12 Junior Fatialofa
11 Kieran Geraghty
10 Danny Gray
9 Clive Stuart-Smith
1 Shane Kingsland
2 Sam Blythe
3 John Andress
4 James Hanks
5 Chris Bentley
6 Tom Johnson
7 Andy Miller
8 Richie Baxter (capt)

16 Simon Jenkins
17 Brett Sturgess
18 Craig Dunlea
19 Lewis Stevenson
20 Tony Yapp
21 Wade Kelly
22 Alan Miller

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