Exeter Chiefs Men v Bristol Bears

Exeter Chiefs were beaten in a derby weekend clash with Bristol Bears at a storm-soaked Ashton Gate in round four of the Gallagher PREM.

Having held Chiefs scoreless in the first-half, a late flurry of points at the death of the match saw Bears runaway with a 20-7 result, leaving the Exeter men frustrated without a losing bonus-point.

In an early onslaught, Bears attacked the Chiefs line from the kick-off. The sodden surface caused an issue for Henry Slade as he tracked back to collect a Bears grubber, but the defence held strong, denying Pat Lam’s men the opening try as they were held up.

It was clear, as Chiefs exited their half, that the scrum was destined to be an integral part of the encounter while the weather’s impact increased. Players swiped at their eyes to better their vision in the downfall as handling increased in difficulty.

After nearly a half hour played, Bears secured the first points of the evening. Their work at the breakdown hadn’t proved profitable, so scrum-half Harry Randall fizzed ball out to the five-metre channel. A jink-step enabled Gabriel Ibitoye to get around a one-on-one with Sam Wolstenholme to score in the corner. James Williams’ conversion attempt curled round in the wind to gain the extra two points.

Just a minute later, a call for blocking against the Exeter men allowed Williams to go for goal and add a three-point penalty to his personal tally of points.

Chiefs were disappointed to lose Tom Hooper just before the break as he was replaced by Harry Wilson having taken a blow to the shoulder. With the new man in situ, Chiefs put the pressure on in the Bears half but were thwarted on a final drive, allowing the hosts to kick the ball dead.

Chiefs seemed reinvograted as they reemerged for the second-half and after 12 minutes, Greg Fisilau had their first points. A clean take in the air at set piece from Dafydd Jenkins fed ball down to hooker Jack Yeandle as the maul-drive came on.

Yeandle smuggled ball to Fisilau at the rear of the surge and the back-rower crashed over at the first sign of white paint. Slade added the conversion to make it the full seven point score.

Both sides rang the changes to bolster their defensive line when tired bodies started to litter the park as the weather showed no signs of letting up. It was in the final five minutes, however, when Bears truly put their foot on the gas.

With four minutes left, Williams added a second penalty. It spurred Chiefs to life as they tried for the last-ditch comeback but a spilled ball and they found themselves back on their own line desperately trying to stop a final Bears attacking wave.

The might of the home side with the crowd at the backs was too great. Second-rower Pedro Rubiolo roared over the line for a final try before Williams conversion with seconds left on the game sealed the win.

Chiefs now look ahead to trying to outplay Harlequins back at Sandy Park next weekend in the final PREM game of the opening block before the Prem Rugby Cup returns to the calendar.