Exeter Chiefs
Chiefs winning run continues
Big Bob
By Big Bob
November 27 2010
Exeter Chiefs give their supporters a warm feeling by beating Sale Sharks at a bitterly cold Sandy Park
Exeter Chiefs 24 Sale Sharks 19
For the second week in a row I have watched the Chiefs win and gain four valuable points but have still walked away feeling mildly disappointed. For the second week in a row we gave away a late penalty to allow the opposition to walk away with a losing bonus point, and of course today we missed out on a fourth try and a winning bonus. Should I feel bad at myself, I don’t think so – we aren’t just making up the numbers and we need aim high.
Don’t get me wrong, Sale are not just making up the numbers either - is anyone? – and it was terrific defence that kept the Chiefs at bay. We were fortunate that Sheridan and Cueto were on England duty, they could well have changed things. My son has EA Rugby Game for his Playstation in which Ben Cohen features heavily, it was pleasing that he did not feature much today thanks to our defence. As a quick side-track , there are rumours that EA Games will release another rugby computer game soon, and if we are still in the Premiership, as we should be, then that could include us – imagine being able to control Budgie or Scaysbrook and hurl them into the oppositions face’s! – As they do every week – both had great games today.
I see from yesterday’s Rugby Times that the Chiefs had two players in the top five most accurate kickers with Ryan Davis at number 1 and Steeno at 4. Ryan’s accuracy was a bit down today but clearly the wind was a major factor, with the woodwork troubled several times in the match, but not when Sale scored a “dubious” penalty – I just hope that the kick is on the TV so we can all see if Andrew Small got it right, and he was so nice to use when we played Bristol! Without wishing in any way to question Rob’s judgement – why was Ryan kept on for approaching ten minutes when it looked like he needed to come off?
I thought that Rob made the right call in starting Jason Shoemark and also Nic Sestaret, who certainly had a lot of energy. Our first try was “a bit tasty” I was certainly not disappointed by that! It was also good to see Andrew Higgins score his first try for us, hopefully the first of many.
Wasps are leading Bath as I type this and we are 7th in the table on 22 points – which is just 7 points behind second placed London Irish, I am not disappointed by this! I seem to remember Rob speaking at a member’s forum about how he hoped that we would not be in the relegation dog fight at the end of the season; at the time I thought that this was wishful thinking but he may be right – he normally is! – In five games time it will become obvious why he left Ryan on for ten minutes it’s just that being mortal I can’t see it now!
It was a pity that the crowd was slightly down on last week but it was really cold and may be people wanted to stay in and watch England get beaten! Also the crowd of over 7,000 is not to be sniffed at, unless you have a cold. I also need to say that the 16th man has been in good voice for the last two weeks.
For the second week in a row one of the Super Saturday teams has come from Cornwall with Camborne today and Penryn last week – both clubs have come a long way to see the Chiefs this has to be good for us and indeed them – Premiership Rugby in Devon who’d have thought it!
Hat’s off – but only for a few seconds due to the cold, to the ground staff and the new pitch cover which appeared to have worked a treat. My son and I entered and left via the new east turnstile yet another example of the club moving forward – and without council money! One person not using the east turnstile was the Sale Sharks owner – did he land his helicopter on the training pitch again? Fly in, watch your team get beaten and then fly out again – can’t be bad!
On such a cold day would the players use the ice pool afterwards? From the Rugby Times I see that an ice pool and a plastic pitch are on Bath’s wanted list for their new training centre – is this an example of catch-up rugby? 
I started by saying that I was mildly disappointed, let me finish by referring back to John Lockyer’s comments at the summer bbq for the then Friends of Exeter Rugby Club at the Blue Ball pub – he told the “crowd” to enjoy the following season. John, if you read this, I am enjoying every minute of it. Just being a small part of such a great club that is so obviously growing and moving in the right direction is fantastic! Thanks to everyone at the club for what you are doing.
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27/11/2010 20:54
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Thing that pleased me most today was Nic Sestaret who was imho man of the match, phenomenal committment and what he lacks in sheer speed he makes up for in committment.
but with a lovely warm glow inside with the team and supporter performances 
Can I touch on your mild dissapointment though.
The opposition are trying to get the LBP and are they realy unforced errors?
I felt that after a run of games without crossing the line
the Chiefs have gained ground.
I think I understand what you are saying but my cup,right now
is way more than half full.
I was half expecting the west grandstand to be empty second half as ticket holders "upgraded" to the North terrace!
NT or ET was definately the place to be yesterday.
Like you, I was a little disappointed not to get the 4th try, but still thrilled with the 4pts again.
Great to have a really good performance again, after a couple of slightly wobbly ones against Cardiff and Leeds.
Congratulations too to Simon Alcott et al - it was good to see our lineout firing on all cylinders again.
And as for the ice bath - it would have felt like a hot bath after 80 minutes out there yesterday! Glad I was in the shelter of the North Terrace shouting myself hoarse again.
Hopefully whatever forced Ryan off won't keep him out next week.
with regard to the "dubious penalty" I think the ref did get it right. I watched it on Premiership Rugby TV and freeze framed through it and it looks as though it just crept over the bar. Whether the penalty should have been awarded in the first place is perhaps more dubious. I believe the ref gave it for a "spear" tackle by Si Alcott, but after watching it again on the highlights, it looked to me to be a perfectly good tackle.
Come on you Chiefs!!
Quote:ExTeddChief
Pen was legit - bounced off the post and over from where I was sat.
You must be referring to another penalty ??
The one that was questioned didn't touch the post.
Have not watched the highlights yet...recorded it last night!
There must have been serious doubt...for the camera crew to be rushing around trying to get a camera behind the posts for the next penalty Sale were awarded ?
There were three different accounts from people sat behind the posts in the SWT Stand...some were convinced it passed just below the bar...others were convinced it past wide of the left hand post...others were convinced it went straight between the posts & 3 foot over the bar (spot the sale supporters view -
Joking aside...We were talking to some guys sat behind us about it, they were convinced it passed wide of the post, & when we turned around one of a group of Sale supporters sat in front of us turned back to us all & winked saying "sometimes you need a bit of luck" ! But we were all puzzled about the late reaction & the facial expressions of the touch judges (referee's assistants). Still, won't let a few very questionable decisions spoil what was a great day !
And it was a pleasure to share some good debate & banter with some great Sale supporters & other passionate rugby fans !
Be sure to treat every day on this earth as if it were your last...one day you will be right. (Jethro)
That said, an excellent result for the Chiefs, great to see them playing with confidence and momentum.
Tough game next week, would be fantastic to make it four in a row!
I agree the 4th try bonus point was a missed opportunity but only to a wider context of a superb season and squad that can be rightly proud. Having said that 4 try bonus points are the next step for a team that has kept on stepping up as the season has progressed - so still very positive.
Re the penalty - i go with gut on these things - it`s usually either one way or the other or a third category of not sure. If i thought it was close i would have said not sure but I didn`t have any doubt it was under. In addition, I have the pleasure of sitting in front of the away coaches (and their laptops) and having been visibly/audibly surprised the kick was given they very graciously admitted the kick was under with a smile.
Not going to lambast the assistants - that doesn`t help - but do we need to TMO these, where they are in doubt?
Quote:but do we need to TMO these, where they are in doubt?
Yes - if we had a TMO - they only operate at the televised games. I am sure it would have been refered had there been one on Saturday.
That said I remember a game a year or two back involving Cardiff, where a drop goal was awarded by the TMO, when EVERYONE could see it go under the bar - he spent 3 mins or so replaying the clip, and still got it wrong!
Also I get annoyed when the ref is within a metre of the incident and is unable to make a decision. During this weekends England game the ref called upon the TMO when a South African player clearly touched down with nobody within 5 metres of him and at least 3 metres in from touch. What was that all about? He and his touch judge must have been the people in the ground that was unsure if a try had been scored.
