Exeter Chiefs v Leeds Carnegie

Sandy Park, Exeter (National Division One)
Saturday, 06 September 2008 (Attendance: 5693)

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

Leeds Carnegie: Leigh Hinton; Richard Welding; Jonny Hepworth; Scott Barrow; Tom Biggs; Alberto Di Bernardo; Scott Mathie; Mike MacDonald; Vili Ma'asi; Fosi Pala'amo; Phil Murphy; Jon Pendlebury; Danny Paul; Hendre Fourie; Rhys Oakley; Reps: Tommy McGee; Rob Rawlinson; Tom Denton; Andy Boyde; Joe Bedford; James Brooks; Scott Armstrong

Only the second weekend of the league campaign and Exeter Chiefs welcomed Leeds Carnegie to Sandy Park in what promised to be a mouth watering encounter. Both sides had successful pre-season programmes followed by convincing wins in their opening matches against Esher and Nottingham respectively. Billed as a potential promotion decider so early in the season, no one doubts that both sides will be contesting the spoils come May 2009.

Today’s match official, Llyr Apgeriant Roberts, got the match underway as Leeds kicked off. Exeter looked to make an immediate impact and attacked early in the game but Leeds cleared their line. Nic Sestaret claimed the high ball to win the first battle of the afternoon against his opposite number, England Saxons winger Tom Biggs. Sustained Exeter pressure saw Leeds forced back and they illegally killed the move allowing Gareth Steenson an attempt at goal. His kick drifted agonisingly wide of the upright leaving the scoreboard unchanged after 5 minutes.

Leeds pushed into the Exeter half from the restart. A well worked lineout on the 22 was won cleanly and the ball was quickly distributed through the midfield. Richard Welding goes close and the ball was quickly recycled for Scott Barrow to cross for the first score of the afternoon. Alberto Di Bernado converted to put the score 0-7 in the visitors favour after 7 minutes.

Exeter attacked the restart and Kevin Barratt put up a high ball which Leeds full back Leigh Hinton was unable to hold. The ball fell into the hands of Matt Cornwell who made a break before releasing Bryan Rennie into space. The well organised Leeds defence halted the move before the ball was released to Sestaret already looking busy on the right wing.

Another Leeds attack worked through the midfield opening up the field before the Exeter defence covered back. Quick recycling of the ball resulted in play continuing and the powerful hooker Vili Ma’asi bulldozed over the line under the posts. Di Bernado added the extras to extend the lead for the Yorkshire men to 0-14 after 14 minutes.

Exeter looked to gain some composure from the restart by keeping the ball in tight. Chris Budgen carried the ball ably supported by Lewis Stevenson. The move came to an end when the ball was lost forward allowing Leeds to counter attack from the resulting scrum. Welding again used his pace to get behind the Exeter defence but Josh Drauniniu just managed to get back and bring him down.

A passage of play saw Exeter in possession although any attempt on Leeds territory was comfortably dealt with by the Leeds defence which was controlled all afternoon by the impressive Hinton at the back. Exeter’s England 7’s scrum half Kevin Barrett marshalled the attack and they found themselves in the Leeds 22 with the line inching closer. However, they were penalised for recycling the ball illegally and Leeds were able to clear their lines.

Exeter pushed deep into Leeds territory with Tom Biggs making a mess of securing the ball under pressure from another England 7’s player Chris Cracknell. The ball was sent wide and Exeter wasted a two man overlap with the line at their mercy as the ball was lost forward in the tackle. Leeds again afforded the opportunity to relieve the pressure on their line.

Exeter begun to create space through Cornwall and Rennie before Josh Drauniniu joined the line in midfield. He cut a smart line and out paced Tom Biggs to go under the posts for a well worked try. Steenson converted making the score 7-14 after 27 minutes.

Renewed confidence and good ball retention saw Exeter again in the Leeds 22. The back row of Cracknell, Andy Miller and Richard Baxter were prominent in setting up good field position but the defence turned over possession and always looked dangerous in the counter attack. Leeds young scrum half Scott Mathie found himself in support of a good break up field by Rhys Oakley only to knock on under pressure. They regained possession and kicked wide towards Biggs only for Sestaret to compete in the air and again get the better of the Leeds winger.

An infringement in the middle of play by Leeds gifted Exeter a penalty. The ball was placed a metre in their own half and Steenson had attempt at goal but his kick was poor and did not have the distance or direction. The score remained 7-14 after 37 minutes.

With the possession often changing hands Exeter tried to work the create more opportunities. Sestaret tried getting the ball out to release Drauniniu but the pass was picked off by Jonny Hepworth. Sestaret redeemed himself by turning and catching his man to save what would have been an easy run in before half time arrived. The teams disappeared into the changing rooms at the break with the visitors ahead on the scoreboard 7-14.

The second half started with Leeds unable to win the ball cleanly and possession gifted straight back to Exeter. Barrett again looked lively on the break with Miller in support and the ball was spread wide with Gary Kingdom joining the line but he was unable to release Drauniniu. The Leeds tackler failed to roll away and was penalised. Steenson kicked for goal but was wide again and the score remained 7-14 after 44 minutes.

The Exeter scrum looked strong with Andress putting his opposite number, the experienced man mountain and USA captain Mike MacDonald, under pressure. Barrett released the ball to the back line only for the good forward work to be undone as the Exeter midfield were penalised for crossing. Leeds put the ball deep into Exeter territory and forced a five metre scrum. Leeds replaced Danny Paul with Andy Boyde in the back row.

Leeds attacked the scrum and Scott Barrow looked certain to score but lost the ball over the line. A break by Cornwell from his own line saw Exeter into the Leeds half where the forwards took control putting pressure back on the Leeds defence. A penalty was awarded and Steenson was successful with the conversion pulling another three points back making the score 10-14 after 54 minutes.

Rawlinson replaced Oakley before the restart with Vili Ma’asi moving from hooker to the back row. A promising Leeds attack in the midfield was ended by a big tackle by Andy Miller which forced a knock on. Budgen and Cracknell made good ground before Neil Clark took the ball on before narrowly avoiding decapitation by Samoan international prop Fosi Pala’amo.

James Brooks replaced Scott Barrow for Leeds whilst Neil Clark received treatment before resuming his place in the middle of the pack. Chris Cracknell was replaced by Tom Johnson for Exeter on 62 minutes.

Exeter wings Drauniniu and Sestaret both looked for work during the game and Drauniniu again joined the midfield at pace after great recycling by Budgen and retention by Stevenson. The move broke down in the Leeds 22 before Vili Ma’asi and Fosi Pala’amo were replaced by Tom Denton and Tommy McGee respectively on 65 minutes.

Leeds tried again to run the ball out of their 22 but Biggs knocked on and Exeter responded with pace from the resulting scrum. Rennie opened up the Leeds defence although Hendre Fourie and Leigh Hinton slowed his progress and Leeds eventually cleared into the Exeter half. Joe Bedford replaced Scott Mathie for Leeds on 69 minutes.

Another backline break opened up the Leeds defence and Gary Kingdom made good ground going close before Hinton thwarted another scoring chance. The ball was lost forward in the tackle before it could be recycled much to the annoyance of the large and partisan crowd. Dan Parkes replaced Chris Budgen and Clive Stuart-Smith replaced Kevin Barrett for Exeter after 72 minutes.

Exeter looked to press Leeds into their own half but the defence remained resilient. An attacking move broke down in the midfield but play was called back for an earlier infringement and Steenson had another chance for three points. His conversion was successful taking the score to within a point at 13-14 after 75 minutes.

Leeds looked to respond immediately and worked the ball through the hands testing the Exeter defence. A promising move saw them near the Exeter try line and a drive by replacement hooker Rob Rawlinson is stopped short by Richie Baxter and the ball was turned over. Simon Alcott replaced Neil Clarke for the resulting scrum and Exeter cleared the ball into the Leeds half relieving the pressure.

The pressure was evident on both teams as the game drew to a close. Possession was shared as Exeter looked for the chance to snatch the victory and Leeds looked to secure the points. The chance nearly came when Leeds went close only for the Exeter defence to scramble back keeping them out. Leeds discipline saw them retain the ball to run down the clock whilst trying hard to create an opportunity which never came for Di Bernado to seal the victory with a drop at goal.

An exciting and sometimes nervous match was brought to a close with Leeds taking the early season spoils in a hard fought victory with the final score 13-14. Exeter can take heart having competed equally with the promotion favourites and picking up a valuable losing bonus point. For Leeds the realisation that this season will not be a straight forward walk back to the Guinness Premiership.

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