‘This is no flash in the pan’ – Baxter

Rob Baxter insists Exeter’s march to a first-ever Aviva Premiership final is no ‘flash in the pan’ – but instead the culmination of years of hard work behind the scenes at Sandy Park.

The Exeter head coach watched on with glowing pride as his side set-up a mouth-watering final assignment of the season against recently crowned European champions Saracens at Twickenham next Saturday (3pm).

Two penalty tries, along with touchdowns for Ian Whitten (pictured) and Dave Ewers, were the highlights on a memorable day for the Devon club, whose remaining points came courtesy of the boot of leading scorer Gareth Steenson. Wasps countered with converted tries of their own through Carlo Festuccia and Dan Robson, plus three further penalties from Jimmy Gopperth.

However, it was never enough to deny Baxter’s side who will now advance to the capital brimming with confidence following their notable scalp. “It feels good,” said Baxter when asked post-match how he was feeling. “it was one hell of a game, one in which neither team really got away from each other. That said, I think we showed enough qualities over 80 minutes to deserve the win.”

With the elements in their favour during the first half, the Chiefs held a slender 20-14 cushion at the break before Wasps threatened to come fighting back during the second period.

In the end, the Midlanders did not have any enough firepower within their attacking arsenal, surrendering late possession which the Chiefs used to deadly effect to claim a second penalty try of the afternoon.

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See also: Chiefs are on their way to Twickenham http://bit.ly/1WIGGpT

Pictures: Exeter Rugby Club/Pinnacle Photo Agency