The play-offs begin, Nottingham v Exeter Chiefs
Play-off Time
Pool B from a Chiefs perspective
So we now have the finalised standings for the Championship play-offs with the Chiefs having home and away games against London Welsh, Nottingham and Doncaster to look foward to.
Pool B league records.
| 2 | Exeter | 22 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 699 | 360 | 12 | 88 |
| 3 | London Welsh | 22 | 14 | 1 | 7 | 483 | 376 | 9 | 62 |
| 5 | Nottingham | 22 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 539 | 520 | 11 | 59 |
| 7 | Doncaster | 22 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 394 | 386 | 8 | 48 |
First up is an away trip to Nottingham on Sunday 21st March. It may not count for much but the Chiefs beat Nottingham twice in the 'league' 11-42 (a) and 42-12 (h). Both victories show the Chiefs out-performing their average points for (32) and points against (16), whereas Nottingham scored less than their average points for (25) and more than the average points against (24).
Much has been spoken about the relative strengths of both sides in these fixtures and it will be interesting to see what happens when they are at full strength (if that happens). The Chiefs have given the whole squad a run out in recent games, which were effectively 'training' games. Both turned out to be comfortable wins with the Chiefs hardly needing to get into top gear and thankfully avoiding serious injury. This should leave them fresh and well prepared to play with pace, passion and pride.
So, whilst I don't expect there to be a large margine, I do expect the Chiefs to start their Play-off campaign with a solid win.
Much has been spoken about the relative strengths of both sides in these fixtures and it will be interesting to see what happens when they are at full strength (if that happens). The Chiefs have given the whole squad a run out in recent games, which were effectively 'training' games. Both turned out to be comfortable wins with the Chiefs hardly needing to get into top gear and thankfully avoiding serious injury. This should leave them fresh and well prepared to play with pace, passion and pride.
So, whilst I don't expect there to be a large margine, I do expect the Chiefs to start their Play-off campaign with a solid win.
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Stumbleupon| 17 Mar, 2010 13:22 | Report |
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The play-offs begin, Nottingham v Exeter Chiefs
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| 17 Mar, 2010 13:24 | Report |
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..CHIEFS..| 17 Mar, 2010 13:53 | Report |
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Re: The play-offs begin, Nottingham v Exeter Chiefs
"So, whilst I don't expect there to be a large margine, I do expect the Chiefs to start their Play-off campaign with a solid win."
Hmmmm - im not so sure about that. glenn delany(sp?) has proved himself to be a very canny coach and probably has some cards up his sleeve. lets hopey they arent aces, although if they are, we need robb to be playing some trumps.
Hmmmm - im not so sure about that. glenn delany(sp?) has proved himself to be a very canny coach and probably has some cards up his sleeve. lets hopey they arent aces, although if they are, we need robb to be playing some trumps.
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| 17 Mar, 2010 15:26 | Report |
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Exeforever (IP Logged) Registered User |
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Re: The play-offs begin, Nottingham v Exeter Chiefs
It really does matter that we get 5 points from this game even if the margin of victory is only 1 point. This is because whoever gets the most points and wins their semi final gets to choose whether to play home or away first in the final. Even though we won at Bristol and lost to them at home we want to be dictating that choice not having to do what somebody else wants us to.
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| 17 Mar, 2010 15:45 | Report |
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| 18 Mar, 2010 10:49 | Report |
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Re: The play-offs begin, Nottingham v Exeter Chiefs
PRESS RELEASE
Back to zero for Chiefs
Exeter Chiefs go into their first play-off game facing a fresh and exciting challenge in the knowledge that all points collected in the league will not count in the second phase of The Championship.
Chiefs’ first XV captain Tom Hayes summed it up today by saying: “We are all back to zero points now.”
Exeter begin their campaign against Nottingham at Meadow Lane on Sunday. Chiefs will play Doncaster Knights, London Welsh and Nottingham both home and away to determine who takes the top two spots in Pool B and goes through to the semi-finals. Bedford Blues, Bristol, Cornish Pirates and Plymouth Albion make up Pool A.
Hayes said: “It’s an exciting time of year. We have been fairly happy with the way we have been playing for the last six or seven weeks. Training has been going well and we are looking forward to the play-offs but Nottingham is a tough place to play.
“Nottingham have always been very well coached. They have not got the biggest squad but I know a few of the boys up there and they all speak very highly of Glenn Delaney (Nottingham director of rugby). They are well-drilled and make the most of the resources they have got.”
Hayes succinctly added: “It all comes down to nine matches now.”
Supporters’ coach travel is still available for this game. Tickets are £20 each and the coach will leave Apple Lane at 7.30am on Sunday. Bus tickets can be purchased by calling the Sandy Park ticket office on 01392 890890 between 10am and 4pm on weekdays.
Baxter announced an extended squad today and will announce his first XV and bench on Saturday.
Nottingham v Exeter Chiefs
Sunday, March 21, 2010 – KO 3pm
Meadow Lane
Forwards:
Simon Alcott, Richie Baxter, Sam Blythe, Chris Budgen, Neil Clark, David Gannon, James Hanks, Tom Hayes, Andy Miller, Ben Moon, James Scaysbrook, Chad Slade, Brett Sturgess & Hoani Tui
Backs:
Richard Bolt, Matt Cornwell, Phil Dollman, Mark Foster, Danny Gray, Matt Jess, Steve Jones, Paul McKenzie, Nic Sestaret, Gareth Steenson, Clive Stuart-Smith & Haydn Thomas
Ends
Back to zero for Chiefs
Exeter Chiefs go into their first play-off game facing a fresh and exciting challenge in the knowledge that all points collected in the league will not count in the second phase of The Championship.
Chiefs’ first XV captain Tom Hayes summed it up today by saying: “We are all back to zero points now.”
Exeter begin their campaign against Nottingham at Meadow Lane on Sunday. Chiefs will play Doncaster Knights, London Welsh and Nottingham both home and away to determine who takes the top two spots in Pool B and goes through to the semi-finals. Bedford Blues, Bristol, Cornish Pirates and Plymouth Albion make up Pool A.
Hayes said: “It’s an exciting time of year. We have been fairly happy with the way we have been playing for the last six or seven weeks. Training has been going well and we are looking forward to the play-offs but Nottingham is a tough place to play.
“Nottingham have always been very well coached. They have not got the biggest squad but I know a few of the boys up there and they all speak very highly of Glenn Delaney (Nottingham director of rugby). They are well-drilled and make the most of the resources they have got.”
Hayes succinctly added: “It all comes down to nine matches now.”
Supporters’ coach travel is still available for this game. Tickets are £20 each and the coach will leave Apple Lane at 7.30am on Sunday. Bus tickets can be purchased by calling the Sandy Park ticket office on 01392 890890 between 10am and 4pm on weekdays.
Baxter announced an extended squad today and will announce his first XV and bench on Saturday.
Nottingham v Exeter Chiefs
Sunday, March 21, 2010 – KO 3pm
Meadow Lane
Forwards:
Simon Alcott, Richie Baxter, Sam Blythe, Chris Budgen, Neil Clark, David Gannon, James Hanks, Tom Hayes, Andy Miller, Ben Moon, James Scaysbrook, Chad Slade, Brett Sturgess & Hoani Tui
Backs:
Richard Bolt, Matt Cornwell, Phil Dollman, Mark Foster, Danny Gray, Matt Jess, Steve Jones, Paul McKenzie, Nic Sestaret, Gareth Steenson, Clive Stuart-Smith & Haydn Thomas
Ends
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| 18 Mar, 2010 13:09 | Report |
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