Chiefs slip to opening day defeat

Bath 19 Exeter Chiefs 17 - Match report

George Ford put the disappointment of England’s turgid Rugby World Cup campaign firmly behind him as his return to club colours helped Bath kick-off the new Aviva Premiership season with a narrow victory over Exeter Chiefs.

The England playmaker’s 14-point haul – including a penalty two minutes from time – proved the key difference in a tight affair at the Recreation Ground. Ford edged out opposite number Gareth Steenson in the game’s key kicking duel and he was part and parcel of Bath’s one and only try, scored in the first half through skipper Stuart Hooper.

In reply, the Chiefs – who were given a whirlwind start when winger James Short scored a try inside 44 seconds on his debut – sadly failed to turn lengthy periods of pressure into points and were duly stung at the death by Ford and Co.

The defeat – Exeter’s sixth in as many league games in the Roman City – meant it was a disappointing outcome for Rob Baxter’s side, who had come into the game fresh from an unbeaten pre-season campaign, which included home and away victories over both Bath and Gloucester, Baxter resisted the opportunity of bringing back his World Cup stars for this seasonal opener.

Instead, the visitors paraded the same starting XV as that which had triumphed ijust a week earlier. Up front, prop Ben Moon ran out for his 100th league appearance, whilst behind Steenson was the fulcrum for the Exeter attacking arsenal. Bath, on the other hand, wasted little time in restoring their World Cup contingent with England’s Ford, Anthony Watson, Rob Webber and Sam Burgess all included in their match-day 23.

Ford’s first action, however, was not one to remember as he was easily brushed aside by Short for Exeter’s opening try inside the opening minute. Having lapped up turnover ball when Bath full-back Tom Homer spilled the ball deep inside the Exeter 22, the visitors cleverly worked the ball at pace from one side of the field to the other, gifting time and space to Ian Whitten, who drew in the cover before offloading to Short who did the rest.

The score went unconverted as Steenson fired his testing kick wide of the near post, whilst at the other end Ford made no mistake with his first shot at goal, reducing the arrears when he punished Moon for a scrum offence on seven minutes.

At the the next scrum, though, Moon gained instant revenge on England international Henry Thomas winning a penalty of his own that Steenson duly dispatched with ease.

Bath looked to summon a response of sorts as the first quarter drew to a close, but a combination of stout Exeter defence and sloppy hands from the home side thwarted their advances, before the Chiefs threatened again with a slick attack.

The forwards did the initial donkey work with some industrious work up front, but when it finally came out wide Messrs Dollman, Whitten and Hill worked in tandem, before the latter was finally penalised for holding on in the tackle.

At the other end, Bath threatened once more when Ford’s hanging kick was gobbled up by Watson in his aerial duel with Dollman, but as the England winger looked to tear clear towards the line, an outstanding cover tackle from Whitten brought him to the deck.

It was end-to-end stuff and when the Chiefs attacked again, this time through a rampaging run from Luke Cowan-Dickie, it took a plethora of home defenders to deny the talented hooker from claiming his first try of the season as he was held up on the home line.

Bath made the most of the let-off and four minutes before the break they stung the Chiefs with a try of their own, Ford and Watson the architects on this occasion, the former eventually feeding the ball to skipper Hooper, who was able to gallop in unopposed for the converted try.

Home joy proved short-lived, however, as on the stroke of half time, the Chiefs restored their lead when Steenson slotted his second penalty of the game, given after Matt Banahan had deliberately knocked down a pass from Chudley in front of his own posts.

Half time: Bath 10 Exeter Chiefs 11