4^th Round EDF Trophy

Exeter Chiefs vs Preston Grasshoppers 

This weekend sees the start of Exeter Chiefs EDF Trophy campaign, in which they will be hoping to go one step further than last term when they were beaten in the final at Twickenham. However, as always, the Chiefs will be first and foremost looking no further than this weeks 4^th round match against part timers Preston Grasshoppers at Sandy Park. 

Grasshoppers, may only be mid table of the National League 3 North, but they come to Sandy Park with some interesting credentials, having played a key part in the development of such names as: Wade Dooley and more recently the likes of: Will Greenwood, Iain Balshaw and Steve Borthwick, all of whom have made their impact in the England team. 

In 2007/8 the Hoppers were knocked out at this very same stage by Blaydon, and in 2006/7 only reached round 2 of the EDF National Cup, and the 3^rd round of the Powergen National Trophy in the preceding season. In the same seasons, Exeter achieved 2 finals and a semi final place. 

The Grasshoppers have had a mixed season to date and come to Sandy Park as firm underdogs, but with that comes little pressure and a little glimmer of hope.Their top scorers this season are: fly half, Markus Jackson, and scrum half, Darren Wilson. 

Exeter, however, come into the game on the back of 2 emphatic wins over local rivals Cornish Pirates and 5^th placed Bedford. However, Pete Drewitt will be hoping that, having made 10 changes to this week’s team, the memories of the last occasion he made such wholesale changes against what was deemed to be lowly opposition, ie in their pre-Xmas game against Esher, it doesn’t come back and bite him in the bum. The supporters will also be expecting that the squad as a whole have learned from their apparent inability to completely gel in such circumstances, and that on this occasion will be working as 1 professional unit and will be treating the Hoppers with plenty of respect. 

A win for Exeter of 80 points should be easily obtainable, but I would expect them to be looking to ensure a win before looking for a try fest. 

The weather will not be a repeat of the last 2 weekends cold snap, with the forecast being for a wet breezy night leading to a drier day, with temperatures about 7ºC, becoming windier in the afternoon with the threat of more rain by kick-off.

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon