Exeter Chiefs 26 Bath Rugby 17
Exeter’s master marksman Gareth Steenson fired the necessary shots as the Chiefs gained revenge for their opening day loss to local rivals Bath Rugby by winning the return match-up at Sandy Park.
The Devon club cemented their place within the top two of the Aviva Premiership with a hard fought victory that saw Ian Whitten and Kai Horstmann cross for tries, while fly-half Steenson landed four penalties and two conversions.
Steenson’s 16-point haul not only edged him ever closer to Tony Yapp’s all-time club scoring record, but it put him on 1,000 Premiership points in his career.
Bath, who threatened predominantly either side of the break, countered with two Amanaki Mafi tries and seven points from the boot of Tom Homer, but it was never enough and their woes at the wrong end of the table continue.
Fresh from victory at London Irish seven days earlier, the Chiefs made five changes in personnel for the visit of their nearest and dearest to Devon. Four of them came up front where there were inclusions for Messrs Cowan-Dickie, Williams, Atkins and Ewers, the latter of whom was making his first start since November.
While behind Dave Lewis – fresh from scoring tries against Sale Sharks and Irish – was given the nod at scrum-half in place of Will Chudley, who dropped down to the replacements bench.
Bath, struggling this term with just four wins all season, also made a host of changes to their starting XV that was undone by Wasps on home soil. In the pack, Ross Batty, Henry Thomas and skipper Stuart Hooper all returned, while rookie fly-half Adam Hastings was given the role of lead playmaker with Kyle Eastmond alongside him in the centre.
With the elements in their favour first up, it was the Chiefs who set the early tone, launching a series of early raids on the Bath line. Flanker Don Armand was the first to show as he tore down the left flank having been put in by Whitten, while Williams – making his first top flight start – also threatened with a charging run in front of the visiting posts.
Exeter Chiefs v Bath Rugby 280216Although the former Jersey tight-head was thwarted on this occasion, his efforts had at least set-up a five-metre scrum from which the Chiefs opened their scoring, Steenson landing his first of the afternoon after Greg Garner had adjudged the visitors had dropped a scrum.
The Chiefs continued to offer the greater threat on the front foot with some of their attacks which – at times – were proving sublime with some sumptuous offloading in the tackle. Bath, however, were holding firm and all the hosts could muster was a second Steenson penalty, again after Bath had been penalised for infringing at the scrum.
Such was Exeter’s dominance in the set-piece, particularly at scrum time, it was handing Baxter’s side the opportunity to not only glean creditable field position but, more often than not, a shot at goal.
Although Steenson saw his third attempt cannon back off the right post with a lengthy kick from halfway, he made no mistake with his next chance, plundering an equally difficult chance between the sticks to extend Exeter’s lead to nine points.
It was no more than the Chiefs deserved, but it could easily have been more as first Phil Dollman – on his 125th league appearance for the club – went close with a decent return from a poor Hastings clearance, then Steenson saw another penalty rebound back off the upright after the visitors were adjudged to have held on in the tackle as they looked to clear their lines.
Bath did their best to summon a response of sorts, but when Steenson intercepted a rare foray into the Chiefs 22, it instigated a counter-attack that yielded the game’s opening try.
The Irishman picked off a pass from Francois Louw, it was recycled back inside along the line to James Short, whose burst of speed and fancy footwork saw him evade opposite number Semesa Rokoduguni before reeling in the cover to feed Whitten who did the rest with a smart finish in the corner.Steenson obliged with the testing conversion attempt from the touchline.
With the Chiefs seemingly in cruise control, they allowed Bath a way back into the contest right on the stroke of half time.
Having gleaned a cheap penalty, the visitors kicked to the corner, after which their pack assembled en mass to drive No.8 Mafi over for the converted try, which was confirmed following consultation between Garner and TV match official Geoff Warren.
Half time: Exeter Chiefs 16 Bath Rugby 7
Read the full match report here: http://exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/chiefs-26-bath-17/
Photo: Tom Sandberg/Pinnacle @ppauk
