Match Review

Exeter Chiefs 70 Moseley 10

 by Big Bob

Three things happened today which I did not expect when I woke up this morning.

1.I did not expect to see not one but two policemen with guns on the motorway roundabout.
2.I did not expect Exeter to win by such a large margin – but there again neither did the Rugby Times who had gone for Exeter by 32.
3.I'll mention the third at the end of this review.

With several tables and chairs missing from the Members bar (temporary move I hope) and with the video of the Pirates match nearly finished when I arrived (the start time of videos seems to be variable) my son and I adjourned to the south east corner of the ground and sat in the sun, which was much better than standing in the shade of the members bar. This allowed an up close look at the opposition who didn't seem that big in comparison to the Chiefs.

After the warm up the Chiefs left the pitch to what seemed an even bigger round of applause and cheers than normal (thanks for last week?). Prior to the kick off the crowd and players stood for a minutes silence for a teenager who sadly has just lost his battle with cancer (apologies to all that I did not get the young man's name).

The Chiefs played from north to south in the first half and so were facing the sun. With just two minutes on the clock Steenson missed what appeared to be an easy penalty, and just two minutes latter he was again successful with his conversion attempt following a try by Sean Marsden. The attempt was from near the touchline and so not “easy”. Bryan Rennie and Matt Jess then began to work well together, interchanging passes.

With ten minutes gone Gareth Steenson got another chance to use his boot – his penalty went over and the score moved to 8 – 0. Then Exe began to lose their way a little allowing Moseley to start to look dangerous, but a penalty attempt of theirs drifted wide.

On twenty minutes the crowd were treated to a classic Josh try which was started from well inside Exeter's half. Just as pleasing was the fact that Sean Marsden was in close support as Josh crossed the line. With Steenson adding the extras the score moved to 15-0.

On twenty six minutes Chris Budgen came on as a blood replacement for John Andress and just a minute later the two full backs clattered into each other with Sean Marsden coming out much the better. After the brief period of stoppage, Andy Binns, the Moseley No 15 got to his feet and Moseley attacked again, a forward pass coming to the Chiefs aid. A good kick down field by an Exe player was fielded by Moseley behind their try line, the resulting kick forward was caught by, I think, Richie Baxter and a good attacking move was ended by a knock on by Exe however as Moseley had infringed the result was a penalty to Exe which was kicked into the corner. At the resulting throw in again the Midlands club infringed and again Exe opted for an attacking throw in. The loop continued with another Moseley infringement and the ref had seen enough – Penalty try which was converted on 33 minutes – 22 – nil. With three tries in the bag the question then was would the Chiefs get the bonus point before half time? Two minutes latter there was another score – a penalty to the visitors – 22 – 3.

On 37 minutes a three man overlap was wasted by Exe and John Baxter was not happy ... with the ref (Get them onside). The Moseley pen was kicked into the corner but despite backing themselves nothing came of it.
With 42 minutes on the clock the bonus point arrived courtesy of Lewis Stevenson who had had a very good game thus far. Credit is also due to the ref (Mr Newitt) who was playing the advantage at the time. With Steenson now “in the grove” the two points were added which bought the score to
29 – 2. There was still time for more play but only after the ref had talked to Neil Clark and the Moseley Number 4 who had just “discussed the finer points of the game with each other” with a handshake the game continued. Just prior to the half time whistle, Exeter once again crossed the visitors line – another fine try with lots of recycling and ending up with Josh D passing inside to Sean Marsden to score under the points. This was a lot of good work by the Chiefs and the extras bought the score to 36 – 3 at half time.

Those who didn't visit the bar saw Big Chief Rolling Maul and “the bloke from Gemini” (I am not a reporter!) try to get a new Chief's chant (if that's the right word) of the ground – you had to be there.

With Moseley ringing three changes and Exe one – Richie Baxter replaced by Tom Hayes the next forty minutes play began. With several Moseley players in front of the kicker at the kick off the resulting Exe scrum resulted in Matt Jess scoring his first try for the club. With just 47 seconds on the clock, the Chiefs started the second half in the same way that they had finished the first. The class try deserved a successful kick which was duly delivered 43 – 3.

The lads were now playing “classic rugby” and a string of passes with some good interchanges between forward and backs saw an excellent try by Gareth Steenson in the 44th minute , and although he missed the conversion the score then stood at 48 – 3. The Chiefs had now scored more than a point a minute! Someone behind stated that this is “rugby as it should be played” and I did not disagree.

A little later a barn storming run by an Exe second row (I think) led to a kick forward by Kevin Barrett who was then impeded when he attempted to follow up his kick, this lead to a yellow card for one of the Midlanders. Exe opted for a scrum and this lead to a try by Barrett which looked like justice to me. Another successful conversion bought the score to 55 – 3.

PD then made three changes, Barrett, Stevenson and Andress came off to a justified round of applause and were replaced by Clive Stuart-Smith, Chris Cracknell and Sam Blythe. With fresh Exeter legs things just would not go right for Moseley but to their credit they did not fold. On fifty minutes Chris Budgen replaced John Andress.

Another good attacking move by the Chiefs ended with a knock on by Josh D, but a good tackle by Bryan Rennie saved our blushes. Mark Fats then copied Josh and knocked on as well. Exe once again crossed the line but the ref judged the ball to have been held up. The resulting excellent attacking position was unfortunately wasted when Clive Stuart-Smith got isolated and was adjudged to have held on to the ball. Then the followed more good Exeter moves and at least one more knock forward.

At the half way point in the second half PD made two more changes; Matt Cornwell replacing Bryan Rennie and Alan Miller taking over from Tom Johnson. The two departing players also receiving much appreciation from the tribe as they left the field.

The crowd then collectively willed an Exe kick up field not to go out of play being the Moseley posts and the ball duly obliged. Another offside from Moseley bought another yellow card form the ref. The resulting Exe penalty, resulted in an attempt at goal, to the puzzlement from my section of the crowd but with his earlier misses now long forgotten, Steenson slotted the ball through the posts from not far inside the Midlander's half of the pitch - 58 -3.

The next penalty went to Moseley who decided to tap and go, a little latter Josh turned from try scorer to try saver as he made a good tackle to preventing the ball going to the midlander's overlap.
Despite another knock forward by Exe (Tom Hayes, I believe), the Chiefs scored again with six minutes left to play. Again Josh was involved and again he beat several men before passing to Matt Jess who sold a superb dummy on his way to under the posts for his second try of the game. The added conversion bringing the score to 65 – 3.

With 38 minutes on the clock, Chris Budgen limped off, this leading to John Andress to return to the play, just in time to see Mark Fatiolafa score a popular try (but aren't they all?). This time the conversion was missed and the scoreboard stood at 70 – 3.

In injury time Moseley scored a consolation try, which was converted with the last kick of the game to leave the final scoreboard at 70 – 10. The miser in me was a tad disappointed to see our try line crossed but only for a few milliseconds.

The man of the match award went to Josh and whilst I have no complaints, our very own Lewis Stevenson had a pretty good match too. Josh's award was followed by a presentation to Alan “Misty” Miller in recognition for his 100th appearance for the club (today was 101). As Alan has had his fair share of injury his award today was good to see.

So a few knocks ons for Rob Baxter to analyse tomorrow but a lot of great moves too, 8 tries for the backs, 1 for the forwards or 2 if you give them the penalty try. 4 tries in 4 games for Joss and 2 tries on his debut for Matt Jess. Today the sun shone in every sense of the word.

I saw no policeman with guns on the way home and had a really great day out – thanks fellas! When we bought on three replacements in one go I tried to imagine what the opposition would be thinking – I was glad that I was not trying to stop them!

Oh, the third thing that I did not expect to happen today, was to be writing this – but no one answered Moorsman's call for help – the Chiefs were a team today – can we the Tribe be a team and each play a part ? (this might sound a bit pompous – but you know that I have a point).

PS If you park in the small car park just to the right at the park and drive then you will need to pay from the 24th onwards (~*#!)

PPS don't forget the rugby programme on ITV 4 on Sunday evenings from 6:30 to 8 p.m. - when you can watch Premiership knock forwards – they happen in that league too

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