Chiefs ground the Falcons

On Halloween weekend, Exeter Chiefs ensured there was no repeat of last season’s Kingston Park ‘Horror Show’ as they powered to man emphatic victory in the Aviva Premiership.

Undone 29-24 at the North East venue last term, Rob Baxter’s side moved back amongst the division’s frontrunners with a frightening six-try display against winless Newcastle Falcons ending 3-41.

Five tries in the opening half from Will Chudley, Julian Salvi, Matt Jess and Don Armand (2) did much of the damage for the visitors, who added a further score after the break through replacement Moray Low.

Skipper Gareth Steenson weighed in with the remaining points, courtesy of four conversions and a penalty, whilst all the Falcons could muster in terms of a response was an early penalty from fly-half Mike Delany.

Having collected their first win of the season the week previous against London Irish, Baxter made three changes in personnel with summer signing Salvi handed his first start in the pack, while behind there were recalls for Sam Hill and Jess, the latter of whom was running out for his 100th Premiership appearance for the Chiefs.

The Falcons, meanwhile, also refreshed their starting XV with Alex Tait coming in for his first start of the season on the right wing; Tom Penny replaced the injured Chris Harris in the centre, Micky Young returned at scrum-half, while up front USA international Eric Fry was back at loosened having missed the defeats to Gloucester and Northampton Saints.

With personnel in place, the opening exchanges were somewhat frantic as the respective packs looked to slug it out in a succession of full-bore collisions in the centre of the field.

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