Chiefs maintain Euro pole position

La Rochelle 10 Chiefs 36

Exeter Chiefs maintained pole position in Pool Two of this season’s European Challenge Cup with only their second-ever victory on French soil.

Not since 2010 when they triumphed on their first outing across the Channel to Bourgoin have Rob Baxter’s men toasted success against a Top14 side.

In La Rochelle, though, the Chiefs served up a Christmas cracker for their supporters as tries from Tom James, Brett Sturgess (pictured) Byron McGuigan and Fetu’u Vainikolo, together with 16 points from the boot of Gareth Steenson sealed a memorable win for the Premiership team.

The French side countered with a converted first half try from Jean-Pascal Barraque and a second half penalty from Julien Auty, but it was never enough against the slick Chiefs who extended their winning streak to seven games. After a hat-trick of Premiership wins against Northampton Saints, Wasps and Saracens, it was back to European action for Baxter’s side who showed ten changes from their last outing.

Steenson, who earlier in the day celebrated agreeing a new three-year deal with the club, not only skippered the side, but was also one of the handful of players who kept their starting place.

Others included Luke Cowan-Dickie, Moray Low, Dave Ewers and Matt Jess. For the remainder of the Chiefs side, it was a big opportunity for them to remind Baxter of their proven talents on the big stage.

La Rochelle, meanwhile, paraded a more than useful looking line-up, but they were shy of a number of their more established stars, including Sireli Bobo, Alofa Alofa, . and former Chief Romana Graham.

Roared on by a very partisan home crowd, it was the French side who started the brighter as they threatened with a powerful opening blast.

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