Chiefs chase the (Cardiff) Blues away with a resounding win at Sandy Park
Exeter Chiefs 44 Cardiff Blues 29
Mark Stevens reporting from Sandy Park
A first half masterclass from the Exeter Chiefs gave them the perfect start to this season’s Heineken Cup as they blew away visiting Cardiff Blues at Sandy Park.
Rob Baxter’s side ran in five tries – four of them in the opening 40 minutes – to ensure maximum reward against the Welsh region, whose improved display after the break did at least glean them a try bonus point.
Skipper Dean Mumm, Matt Jess, Fetu’u Vainikolo, Ben White and Ian Whitten all crossed for tries, while Gareth Steenson weighed in with a further 11 points for the Chiefs.
In reply, Cardiff countered with scores of their own through Lloyd Williams, Robin Copeland, Alex Cuthbert and Harry Robinson; whilst full-back Leigh Halfpenny landed the remainder of their points with his trusty right boot.
Having wrapped up a testing opening block of fixtures in the Premiership with a notable victory at Gloucester, the Chiefs were forced to make two changes to their winning line-up for their opening test in European competition. Both came in the back division where injuries to Sam Hill and former Cardiff flyer Tom James ruled them out of the action – into the side came Jason Shoemark in the centre, while summer signing Fetu’u Vainikolo was afforded his first competitive start on the left wing.
The Blues, meanwhile, arrived in the Westcountry armed with a wealth of star names, including British & Irish Lions skipper Sam Warburton and his fellow heroes of Australia – Gethin Jenkins, Alex Cuthbert and Halfpenny – as well as fellow Welsh stars Bradley Davies and Matthew Rees.
Picking up from where they left off at Kingsholm seven days earlier, the Chiefs wasted little time in sounding out their attacking intent. Man of the moment Dave Ewers led the initial charge through the middle with one of his trademark runs that left the Blues defence in tatters. Although Cardiff repelled the early Exeter raids, the deadlock was finally broken on eight minutes when, following a series of drives from the home forwards, England international Johnson was assisted over the line by Shoemark in the right-hand corner. Cardiff countered within moments with a penalty from Halfpenny, but that would be the Welsh side’s only bright point in a first half that was dominated by the home side.
Click here for the full match report.
Attendance: 8,751
UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Glasgow Warriors (A), Heineken Cup, Sunday 20 October (2pm)
