Exeter Chiefs v Bristol Bears

Exeter Chiefs roared to victory over Bristol Bears in their opening PREM Rugby Cup match as a first half-hattrick from Olly Woodburn helped to seal a bonus-point win.

The centurion was on fire as he ran in three scores before there was even 20 minutes on the clock. Three more followed from Kane James, Ethan Roots and Jake Murray and a penalty try added on top created a 45-21 scoreline in the Exeter men’s favour.

Woodburn’s first came after a tough opening 10 minutes, Bristol losing two players in some fierce contact. Harvey Skinner put a long ball out in front of two teammates to find Woodburn in space in the five-metre channel and the winger flew over tight to the corner flag.

Four minutes later, in an almost carbon copy of his first, Woodburn had a second in the same corner as he outpaced Gabriel Ibitoye. His third followed when he looked beyond the ruck, spotted daylight and quickly grabbed-and-went from close range. Skinner split the sticks with his third attempt of the afternoon.

There was heartbreak for Tommy Wyatt after a half hour played as the winger, who made his return after 16 months out last weekend, had to be replaced by debutant Sam Harris having hurt his shoulder.

Bristol wrestled one over before the half concluded, working with repeated phases on the Chiefs line to send James Williams crashing over for five points which AJ MacGinty made seven with a quick conversion.

Chiefs started the second half as they meant to go on. One of the game’s standout performers Kane James crossing the whitewash to the roar of the crowd. The 21-year-old, who made his Wales debut in the summer, bumped off the last defender with confidence before leaping over the line for the try which Skinner converted.

From one back-rower to another, Ethan Roots secured the fifth of the day. A confident take at the lineout from debutant Harry Wilson fed the ball cleanly down to James who made the commanding carry to a metre out. Roots took the feed and bulldozed his way over, Skinner adding the extra two.

Ollie Harris caught Chiefs on the back-foot as he scampered over for Bristol’s second just shy of an hour. AJ MacGinty converted the score to try to launch a comeback for his side.

Sam Harris spent 10 minutes of his debut in the sin bin when he was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on which also cost Chiefs a penalty try after Bristol took back-to-back penalty advantages while attacking the Exeter line.

In the closing stages, Chiefs doubled down on their dominance, adding a further two tries, the first a penalty try the product of a driving maul. Then in the 79th minute, as the forwards mauled Bristol back over their own line, replacement scrum-half Jake Murray spotted his chance as he grounded the ball which had rolled over the whitewash. Skinner’s conversion was the last act of the afternoon as he took Chiefs’ tally to 45 points.

Chiefs now prepare for a friendly on the road to Cardiff Rugby next Saturday afternoon before the Gallagher PREM returns with the visit of Gloucester Rugby on Saturday, 26 September.