Chiefs secure LV= Cup Final place with away victory
Bath 19 Chiefs 22
If at first you don’t succeed – try, try and try again. Well, in the case of the Exeter Chiefs it’s taken 12 attempts, but at last the Bath curse has been finally broken.
Rob Baxter’s side booked themselves a home date with Northampton Saints in next Sunday’s LV= Cup Final with a hard-fought 22-19 win against their Westcountry rivals.
Having come so close on numerous other occasions since 2010, this was finally the day when Devon’s finest rose to the occasion.
Indeed, not since 1978 had the Chiefs tasted success against their nearest and dearest. It was, therefore, somewhat fitting that in the Roman City, it was Exeter’s very own Emperor, Tony Rowe, who offered the seal of approval with a joyous ‘thumbs up’ at the final whistle.
A try double from Luke Arscott and another sizzling effort from the ‘Tongan Express’ Fetu’u Vainikolo were the highlights for the Chiefs, whose other points came from the boot of young fly-half Henry Slade.
However, Bath could easily have sent the game into extra time had Tom Heathcote, who finished the game with 14 points of his own, not seen his long-range effort fall just short of the mark.
He was gifted a late chance when Exeter replacement James Scaysbrook engaged in a moment of madness with just 30 seconds remaining on the clock. The former Bath flanker was pulled up for holding onto the ball as his former employers went to take a quick line-out.
Thankfully, his indiscretion did not prove fatal and the Chiefs were able to celebrate as Arscott collected the punt before setting off on a gentle jog to the touchline.
It sparked scenes of delirium amongst the travelling Tribe, all of whom will again be out in force for Sunday’s showdown against the travelling Saints, who themselves booked their final spot with victory over Saracens.
Certainly home advantage will be an asset to Baxter’s men, but they know they will need to improve in a number of certain areas if they are to repel the threat of the Midlanders.
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