Exeter Chiefs v Bristol Rugby

Sandy Park, Exeter (Pre-season Friendly Match)

Saturday, 17 August 2008 (Attendance: 3327)

Exeter: Gary Kingdom; Matt Jess; Bryan Rennie; Matt Cornwell; Josh Drauniniu; Gareth Steenson; Clive Stuart-Smith; Dan Parkes; Neil Clark; John Andress; Lewis Stevenson; Dan Tuohy; Tom Johnson; Alan Miller; Richard Baxter; Reps: Ben Moon; Simon Alcott; Chris Budgen; Chris Bentley; Kevin Barrett; Stephen Ward; Mark Fatialofa; Tom Skelding; Chris Cracknell; Richie Pugh; Andy Miller; Nic Sestaret; Emyr Lewis

Bristol Rugby: Luke Arscott; Tom Arscott; Luke Eves; Kevin Maggs; Anthony Elliott; Ed Barnes; Shaun Perry; Mark Irish; Scott Linklater; Peter Bracken; Mariano Sambucetti; Nathan Budgett; Ian Grieve; Joe El Abd; Dan Ward-Smith; Reps: David Blaney; Darren Crompton; Robert Sidoli; Roy Winters; James Phillips; Graeme Beveridge; Adrian Jarvis; Aliaifatu Fatialofa

Sandy Park welcomes Bristol Rugby for a pre-season friendly that both sets of supporters have been looking forward to throughout the off-season. Although Exeter Chiefs have the benefit of a couple of trial match run outs against Exmouth and Clifton, Bristol Rugby pose the first real test for a team tipped to top National Division 1 for a place in the Guinness Premiership. The form at the end of last season would suggest little between the two teams and the Exeter side will relish a test against Guinness Premiership opposition. Bristol Rugby, playing the first of three warm-up matches, will be looking for a performance to build on ready for the mouth watering league opener against local rivals Bath.

Bristol, in their new look white away strip (looking similar to Sale Sharks!), kick off from left to right into a strong wind. Exeter wins possession in their own third and a solid kick from stand off Gareth Steenson finds touch in the Bristol half. Bristol immediately show their intent with a powerful drive from Dan Ward-Smith and a quick penalty taken by Shaun Perry sees Bristol into the Exeter half, although Exeter manage to turn the ball over and clear their lines. Good early work by Mariano Sambucetti, Scott Linklater and Tom Arscott force Exeter to hold on at the breakdown and a penalty is awarded.

Six minutes sees the first scrum of the match at which Bristol asserts their physicality forcing another penalty. They opt to scrum again and the following scrum results in a bust up between the front rows and Bristol are adjudged to be the guilty party and new skipper El Abd is warned for the team offence. Exeter uses the penalty to venture into the Bristol half but are once again penalised for holding on at the breakdown. A period of scrappy play results in Exeter being awarded a penalty in the Bristol half and Steenson opts for the kick at goal. His kick is successful and Exeter leads 3-0 after 11 minutes of play.

Exeter asserts continued pressure on the Bristol midfield and the boot of Steenson again proves invaluable in getting Exeter deep into Bristol territory. Some good defence work from Nathan Budgett and Dan Ward-Smith keep a driving Exeter pack at bay only to be penalised and Steenson has another opportunity at the sticks. He is again successful with the wind behind him and Exeter have a 6-0 lead after 15 minutes.

Bristol look livelier at the restart and attack the midfield through Ed Barnes and Luke Eves until the Exeter back row end the move illegally. Barnes probes the ball into the corner and Bristol have a platform in the Exeter 22. Exeter disrupts the line out and Steenson is once again allowed to relieve the pressure through his boot. Once again Exeter are penalised around the base and Perry looks to go quick but is called back by referee Nigel Pearson. Bristol pressures the Exeter line only for turnover ball allowing Steenson to clear the danger through his boot.

Another period of Bristol possession sees an attack on the Exeter midfield and Luke Arscott joins the line. The Exeter defence remains strong and eventually the ball is lost forward in the tackle allowing Exeter possession. A break from former Leicester man Matt Cornwell puts former London Irish centre Brian Rennie into space through the midfield and Exeter find themselves deep into the Bristol territory. They are awarded a scrum five metres out and force the penalty from which they opt for another scrum.

The lively Clive Stuart-Smith attacks the blind side for the Bristol defence of Ian Grieve and Anthony Elliott to stand strong. Exeter keep the pressure on using the forwards around the base and a Dan Parkes drive almost reaches the Bristol line only for his support to go over the top and Bristol are awarded the penalty from which they relieve the pressure. As Bristol drive their way towards the half way line Pearson penalises them and Steenson has another attempt at goal which he converts. Exeter extends their lead to 9-0 after 30 minutes.

Bristol makes the first substitution of the afternoon as Graeme Beveridge replaces Shaun Perry after 32 minutes. Bristol, playing into a heavy wind, clear through Ed Barnes although the line out is awarded at the point of where it was kicked under the new laws. A mix up in the Bristol midfield almost sees Exeter force another error and Luke Eves becomes isolated and is penalised. Steenson is gifted an easy attempt at goal which he converts and the Exeter lead stretches to 12-0 after 36 minutes.

The restart sees the wind hold the ball up and it does not travel the required ten metres and play restarts with a scrum in the centre. Exeter have the put in but are penalised allowing Bristol to kick to touch. A good line out releases the Bristol midfield but a strong tackle from Gary Kingdom brings the move to a close. Steenson kicks possession away to Tom Arscott and the lively winger runs the ball back, keeping the ball alive for Dan Ward-Smith but he is met by a powerful Tom Johnson tackle. The half is brought to a close with Exeter looking the stronger side, albeit marginally, going in with a 12-0 lead.

Both sides return to the field with no further changes and the conditions now in Bristol’s favour as the wind continues to cut across the paddock. Bristol immediately attack with a kick by Ed Barnes being charged down into the hands of Luke Eves. The young centre finds some space and recycles the ball as Bristol venture into the Exeter half. The move breaks down in the midfield and the ball is turned over allowing Exeter winger Matt Jess his first opportunity in an Exeter shirt with the ball in hand.

Exeter open side flanker Alan Miller charges down a kick and the ball is spread wide and the crowd sees Josh Drauniniu go over in the corner only for referee Pearson to call play back after Bristol ventured off side. The crowd were not happy having not heard the early whistle and Steenson has another penalty attempt under the posts. He converts making it five out of five to further extend Exeter’s lead to 15-0 after 46 minutes.

Exeter again attacks the Bristol midfield and the former Ireland international Kevin Maggs shows his physical presence in defence. The ball is kept alive only for Bristol to be penalised wide out allowing Exeter to continue pressuring the Bristol line making the defence work hard to keep them out.

Eventually, Bristol manages a period of possession which sees them gain some territory. John Andress is replaced by Exeter’s former Northampton prop Chris Budgen on 56 minutes. The Army man makes an immediate impact driving the ball up the field before losing possession. Bristol winger Anthony Elliott gets the ball in hand and is able to make some ground and Bristol find themselves in the Exeter 22. Exeter are penalised and Ed Barnes has a penalty attempt in front of the posts. His conversion is successful as Bristol pulls a valuable three points back. The score is 15-3 after 58 minutes.

Tom Johnson, Clive Stuart-Smith and Brian Rennie are replaced by Chris Cracknell, Kevin Barrett and Stephen Ward respectively on 59 minutes. Bristol also make changes with Scott Linklater, Peter Bracken, Mariano Sambucetti, Nathan Budgett, Ed Barnes and Kevin Maggs leaving the field for David Blaney, Darren Crompton, Robert Sidoli, Roy Winters, Adrian Jarvis and former Exeter player Aliaifatu Fatialofa.

England Sevens player Kevin Barrett bosses his pack and probes into the Bristol half. Matt Jess in support recycles the ball but the supporting Exeter players are penalised again for going over the top. This sees a rare period of sustained Bristol pressure before the move comes to an end and James Phillips replaces Dan Ward-Smith. Chris Bentley is on for Lewis Stevenson and former Plymouth Albion winger Nic Sestaret replaces Josh Drauniniu who has had a quiet afternoon.

Bristol again breaks through the Exeter backline and is deep in Exeter territory only to be penalised. This relieves the pressure and the changes continue on 70 minutes with Dan Parkes, Dan Tuohy, and Alan Miller being replaced by Ben Moon, Tom Skelding and Wales Sevens player Richie Pugh. Exeter are penalised and Adrian Jarvis has an opportunity to kick for goal and his first points in a Bristol jersey. His kick is successful and the score is 15-6 after 74 minutes.

The impressive Mark Irish leaves the field injured as Peter Bracken returns and Bristol again has possession in the Exeter half. The Exeter defence again limits the Bristol opportunities and the intensity of the game begins to take a toll on both sets of players as bodies are scattered across the field. Ben Moon is forced to leave the field injured allowing Dan Parkes back on and the stretcher is called for Darren Crompton for what looks like a possible broken leg. Scott Linklater returns to the field in his place resulting in uncontested scrums for the remaining five minutes. Another former Plymouth Albion man Emyr Lewis replaces Gareth Steenson for Exeter with Stephen Ward stepping in at ten.

Again Bristol in possession tries to force an attack but is met by the resolute Exeter defence and they fail to get anything going and struggle for territory – as they have done for most of the afternoon. Nigel Pearson blows for full time and Exeter claim the scalp of the Guinness Premiership outfit with the final score 15-6.

In reality, there was little between the two teams (as both seemed to negate each other in attack and defence) although it would be fair to say that Exeter deserved the win. It was not the most entertaining of matches with all points coming from the boot, although both sides managed a 100% record with their kicks. It is certainly a win that will buoy the Exeter team and supporters but one that will raise a few eyebrows amongst the Bristol followers. Bristol will already be looking at how they can improve against Pontypool this coming Wednesday before making the trip to Glasgow for their final warm-up before the Guinness Premiership kicks off.

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