It wasn't quite the outcome he craved on his full debut for the Exeter Chiefs, but summer signing Damian Welch insists there were still plenty of positives to take from last Saturday's Heineken Cup loss to French giants Clermont Auvergne.
Recruited in the summer from Pool 5 rivals Scarlets, the imposing second row forward has had to bide his time to get his first taste of senior action with his new club. However, the 30-year-old's patience duly paid off when he was used as a second half replacement for James Hanks during Exeter's first-ever Heineken Cup fixture at Sandy Park....
Nobody said Exeter's first-ever involvement in the Heineken Cup would be easy, but Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter refused to be too downbeat despite seeing his side slip to a second successive defeat in the competition against French giants Clermont Auvergne at Sandy Park.
With Baxter's side leading 12-10 at the break thanks to four Gareth Steenson penalties, the Devon club - who had lost narrowly to reigning champions Leinster in their opening fixture in Dublin - were then hit by a ferocious second half attacking display from the visitors.
Exeter Chiefs' first taste of Heineken Cup rugby in Devon turned sour as French visitors Clermont Auvergne served up a Saturday night treat at Sandy Park.
Vern Cotter's side were in inspired form as they ran in six tries - five of them in the second half - to maintain pole position of Pool 5 after the first two round.
The hosts led 12-10 at half-time through four Gareth Steenson (pictured) penalties, with Clermont replying via a Napolioni Nalaga try and Morgan Parra's boot.
However, two tries soon after the break from French internationals Wesley Fofana and...
The Round 10 Aviva Premiership Rugby fixture between Exeter Chiefs and London Wasps on Saturday 1st December at Sandy Park Stadium, previously scheduled to kick-off at 3pm, will now kick off at 5.30pm. This change is at the request of Exeter Chiefs to avoid a clash with the Autumn International at Twickenham between England and New Zealand.
The official Aviva Premiership Rugby fixture list can be found throughout the season under the Match Centre at www.premiershiprugby.com
The Chiefs have also done similar for their forthcoming LV= Cup encounter at home to the Ospreys on...
Exeter Braves coach Rob Gibson was full of praise for his side as they maintained their unbeaten home record in the Aviva Premiership A League with a 52-5 thumping of visiting London Irish.
In a one-sided encounter, the Braves were simply ruthless in seeing off the Exiles, running in tries from Alex Brown, Will Carrick-Smith, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Mark Foster, Myles Dorrian, Jack Arnott and Tom Cowan-Dickie, whilst fly-half Henry Slade helped himself to a 14-point haul.
Irish's sole response on a miserable night for them was a late consolation try in the game from winger Tom...
Exeter Braves returned to winning ways in the Aviva Premiership A League as they swept aside visiting London Irish 52-5 in a one-sided encounter at Sandy Park.
The defending champions were in ruthless mood on home soil as they put to bed the disappointment of their loss at Harlequins last time out to run in seven tries.
Alex Brown, Will Carrick-Smith, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Mark Foster, Myles Dorrian, Jack Arnott and Tom Cowan-Dickie all crossed for tries, whilst fly-half Henry Slade helped himself to a 14-point haul.
Unbeaten at home in the competition this season,...
Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter admitted he was left with "mixed emotions" after seeing his slip to a narrow 9-6 defeat against Leinster in their first-ever Heineken Cup fixture.
Pitted in the so-called 'Group of Death' against the reigning champions, French giants Clermont Auvergne and Welsh region Scarlets, the Chiefs came within a whisker of snatching a share of the spoils in their debut outing.
Exeter's Argentine fly-half Ignacio Mieres had the opportunity to ensure a draw with the very last kick of the game, but sadly his penalty from just shy of 50 metres...
Halloween might not be until the end of the month, but defending Heineken Cup champions Leinster were given one almighty fright by visiting Exeter Chiefs at the RDS.
Strutting their stuff in European Rugby's premier competition for the first time in the club's history, the Chiefs came within a whisker of grabbing at least a share of the spoils against their star-studded Irish hosts.
With the clock having run dry in the Irish capital, Argentinian ace Ignacio Mieres had the opportunity to put his name in Exeter folklore when he was afforded a last-gasp penalty chance....
Rob Baxter says Exeter's qualification into the Heineken Cup for the first time in the club's history was just reward for what was an outstanding campaign for the Chiefs last season.
A fifth place finish in only their second year in the Aviva Premiership ensured the Devon club would be participating on the biggest club stage in the Northern Hemisphere, tackling the cream of European Rugby in at least six competitive fixtures.
On Saturday the Exeter Chiefs adventure begins in earnest with a trip across the Irish Sea to face the competition's reigning champions, Leinster,...
The latest instalment of Chris Whitehead's blog sees the Exeter Chiefs man bracing himself for a huge game again Leinster in the Heineken Cup...
On arrival at Sandy Park before venturing into what stands to be our biggest rugby test so far, there was a very different pre-match atmosphere than usual amongst the players.
Despite many attempts to play down the importance of this game within the squad to the media, for me there was no hiding from the fact that this game will be the biggest not only of this season but potentially of our careers.