Back-to-back wins for Chiefs

Exeter Chiefs made it back-to-back victories in this season’s Anglo-Welsh Cup, brushing aside the attentions of the Scarlets on their own patch.

For 40 minutes at least, the Welsh region went toe-to-toe with their English counterparts. After that, brute force took hold and with it came a flurry of points for Ricky Pellow’s side.

Shaun Malton, James Freeman and Tom Hendrickson all claimed tries for the visitors, but it was up front where they ruled the roost, inflicting a further three penalty tries on the Scarlets, who were physically no match for the Devonians in the set-piece.

Fly-half Joe Simmonds weighed in with the remainder of Exeter’s points to cap a fine weekend for him and his family, who 24 hours earlier had beamed with delight after old brother Sam had won his first international cap for England in their victory over Argentina at Twickenham.

Looking to build on their impressive opening round victory over Northampton Saints the previous week, it was a largely unchanged Chiefs line-up that took to the field. Welshman Phil Dollman was one of three changes, alongside Sam Hill and Stuart Townsend, in the back division; while up front Toby Salmon came in for his first start, replacing Ollie Atkins in the Exeter engine room.

The Scarlets, meanwhile, were making their first appearance in this season’s competition and they named a youthful looking outfit for the visit of the English champions. With many of their household names missing having been on international duty for Wales the day previous against Australia, this was their chance to shine on a bitterly cold afternoon in the Principality.

For the full match report go to: https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/scarlets-0-chiefs-40