Exeter Chiefs Men v Cardiff Rugby

A dogged Exeter Chiefs side came from behind to secure a final pre-season victory against Cardiff Rugby at the Cardiff Arms Park this afternoon.

Having originally gone two converted tries behind, Rob Baxter’s men fought their way into the encounter in the first half before turning the screw in the second to emerged victorious 28-33.

Cardiff inflicted their physicality on the early stages of the match, immediately setting up camp deep in Chiefs territory. A lineout maul drove for the line, only to be brought down inches short of the whitewash. However, Cardiff pressurised the Chiefs defence and after multiple phases, Taine Basham forced his way over.

Just a minute after Callum Sheedy had slotted the conversion, centre Ben Thomas spotted space in the Chiefs 22. Thomas put on the afterburners and accelerated into clean air to secure a second for the hosts which Sheedy quickly converted.

Having taken the first quarter to bed-in to the game, Chiefs exploded into the contest in the second quarter with three tries, two converted, to lead at the break.

Greg Fisilau was the first to score, bursting out of the driving maul to score with the force of a latch from Kane James. The second belonged to Harvey Skinner who, having looked for an option out wide, backed himself and accelerated for the posts, giving Henry Slade a kinder angle for the conversion.

However, the third drew the gasps of the crowd as returning international Stephen Varney secured a solo effort, running the ball in from the halfway line to score. Slade’s conversion was the last points of the half, as Chiefs led by five.

Chiefs burst back into life after the break, scoring just two minutes after the referee’s whistle got play back underway. Working with possession from close range, Joe Bailey took the feed to crash over for the Exeter men. Slade’s conversion further lengthened the lead.

Cardiff weren’t prepared to shrink away from the challenge, however. With a raft of reinforcements as multiple substitutions were made, the might of their pack rumbled over for a maul try after 50 minutes played. Sheedy’s conversion brought things back within five.

In a move for the personal highlight reel, just seconds after entering the field, Zack Wimbush had a try assist for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. The replacement’s large, cantering running style put him on the front foot before he fed the England winner to finish the move.

Cardiff responded when Daf Hughes went over after repeated phases at close range to the Chiefs line, with Lloyd Lucas stepping up to take the conversion.

The Welshmen looked to get on the rebound and claw the result back but the Chiefs held firm, replacements reinforcing the ferocity of the defensive line.