Chiefs grab vital bonus point
Match report: Wasps 36 Exeter Chiefs 29
Exeter Chiefs 29 Mark Stevens at the Ricoh Arena Gareth Steenson landed a decisive drop-goal with the last kick of the game to ensure Exeter Chiefs grabbed a vital bonus point from their Aviva Premiership away-day at Wasps.
Having trailed 26-16 at the break, Rob Baxter’s side produced a much-improved performance after the break to come within striking distance of pulling off victory at the impressive Ricoh Arena.
As it was, Joe Simpson’s late try ensured Wasps boosted their own push for the end of season play-offs with just two rounds of the season remaining.
Earlier, the home side had struck through an early Christian Wade try and a Penalty Try, whilst home favourite Andy Goode weighed in with 18 points alongside a further penalty from Elliott Daly.
In reply, Will Chudley and Thomas Waldrom crossed for Exeter’s two tries, both of which were converted by Henry Slade, who also added four penalties.
Back in top flight action for the first time since their European semi-final exit to Gloucester, Baxter’s side arrived in Coventry looking to maintain their impressive Premiership form of late Ahead of kick-off, the visitors made just one change to their starting line-up from that which went down at Kingsholm.
Injury meant full-back Phil Dollman sat out on this occasion and Byron McGuigan was brought in to fill the No.15 jersey.
On the bench, Damian Welch returned after recent ankle surgery, whilst Alex Brown’s failed fitness test meant a late call-up for long-serving prop Brett Sturgess.
Wasps, meanwhile, made a plethora of changes from the side that saw off winless London Welsh on their last league outing.
In the backs, speedster Wade was back in place of Tom Varndell, who scored a hat-trick of tries against the Exiles, whilst up front there were inclusions for Italian duo Carlo Festuccia and Lorenzo Cittadini; Kearnan Myall came into the second-row with No.8 Nathan Hughes also returning after his recent suspension.
And it was Hughes who helped the home side get off to a flying start. Having held up Dave Ewers at the kick-off, Wasps used the resultant scrum to sting the Chiefs with an early score.
Hughes picked from the base of the set-piece, brushed off two defenders before feeding Wade, who squeezed over in the right-hand corner for the score, which Goode duly converted from the touchline.
Home cheers lasted only a matter of minutes as the Chiefs restored parity on five minutes.
Having positioned themselves deep in the Wasps half thanks to a Slade penalty kicked to the corner; Kai Horstmann cleaned up a rather scrappy Exeter line-out from which Chudley was able to snipe through a yawning gap in the home defence to claimed there converted try.
It was a lively opening to the game from both sides, both of whom appeared willing to attack at every opportunity.
The Chiefs threatened with a couple of raids, before a dropped scrum on halfway allowed Wasps to reclaim their lead when Daly plundered a lengthy penalty from halfway.
Again, the home lead proved short-lived as within minutes the Chiefs had levelled, fly-half Slade easing over a penalty after winger Ian Whitten had been floored with a high tackle midway inside the Wasps half.
But again no sooner had the Devonians brought parity on the scoreboard, they allowed Wasps to nudge themselves back in front with another penalty, the experienced Goode slotting a straight-forward effort after Sam Hill was pulled up for holding on in the tackle as he looked to clear his lines.
Two quickfire penalties from Goode further extended the home lead, before Slade showed he was equally as deadly with the kicking tee, reducing the arrears back to three points with two successful kicks of his own, the first a real gem from bang on halfway.
Now within touching distance of their rivals, the Chiefs looked to power through before the half time interval. However, there hopes were dealt an untimely blow when Thomas Waldrom was sent to the sidelines for ten minutes by referee Matt Carley, who adjudged the experienced No.8 had deliberately knocked down an intended Wasps pass.
With the man advantage, Wasps looked to attack once more and with the last play of the half they were rewarded when Carley awarded the hosts a penalty try after the Chiefs struggled to contain a powerful shunt just five metres from their own line.
Goode again converted to give his side a ten-point cushion at the turn.
HALF TIME WASPS 26 EXETER CHIEFS 16
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