Braves 54 Welsh 3

Exeter Braves 54

London Welsh 3

By Mark Stevens at Sandy Park

Exeter Braves turned on the style as they returning to winning ways in the Aviva Premiership A League with a seven-try victory over visiting London Welsh at Sandy Park.

In a one-sided encounter, Welsh simply had no answer to the power, pace and precision of the Braves, who ran in scores through Dave Ewers (2), Mark Foster, Neil Clark, Aron Struminski, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Henry Slade, who also fired over 14 points with the boot.

Former Chief Ryan Davis kicked the visitors sole points of the night with a first half penalty, but that was to be their only bright spot on a torried night in Devon.

Having suffered their first defeat in over a year last time out against Saracens Storm, the Braves fielded a powerful line-up for this latest encounter on home turf. Included for the first time in Exeter colours was Australian international Dean Mumm in the second row, whilst there was also more game time for hooker Clark following his summer shoulder operation.

From the outset Exeter were quickly into their stride as Slade slotted an eighth minute penalty, before adding the extras to the opening try of the night, which came courtesy of flanker Ewers.

Behind a rampant Braves pack, England Under-20 international Slade was being given an armchair ride in the No.10 role - and he added to his personal tally as he showed some fancy footwork to dance in under the posts for a second try, which he also converted.

Welsh needed a response of some sorts, but the best they could muster was a 30-metre penalty from Davis after the home side were pulled up for going off their feet at the tackle.

Sadly that would be as good at it got for the Premiership newcomers as two more Slade penalties stretched Exeter's lead to 23-3 by the half-hour mark.

It was one-way traffic for the Braves, who saw then saw a Jack Arnott effort, crafted by a clever cross-field kick from Slade, chalked off harshly for offside just before the break

Any hopes the visitors had of Exeter taking their foot off the pedal in the second period were soon extinguished as the hosts claimed the all-important fourth try on 51 minutes when Clark rumbled over from close range to make it 33-3.

Two more home tries followed in the space of four minutes as winger Struminski found his way over in the left corner, before great work from Mark Foster created the opening for Ewers to bulldoze his way over for his second on the night. Slade obliged with the additional points to both scores to put the Braves firmly in command.

With the Braves taking the opportunity to run their bench in the final quarter, it was replacement Cowan-Dickie who had the final word as he was propelled over the whitewash by a collection of team-mates for the final try, which naturally Slade converted with aplomb.

Braves: M Pope; J Arnott, N Sestaret, M Foster (R Coote 61), A Struminski (D O'Reilly 73); H Slade, K Barrett (J Poluleuligaga 44); B Moon (L Cowan-Dickie h/t), N Clark (J Yeandle 54), A Brown (L Fairbrother 51); D Mumm, D Welsh (J Blanchet 59); A Muldowney (W Carrick-Smith 54), D Ewers, K Horstmann (capt).

Tries - Ewers (2), Slade, Foster, Clark, Struminski, L Cowan-Dickie; Conversions - Slade (4); Penalties - Slade (3)

Welsh: S Whatling (C Bishey 51); A Smith, J Lewis, P Mackey, J Ajuwa; R Davis (A Davies), M Keyte (J Stevenson 51); T Bristow (N Stoneman 51), D George (G Evans 53), L Thiede (G Bateman 9); A Brown, M Purdy; L Beach (J Gray 73), R Newman (W Hafu 51), E Williamson (capt).

Penalty - Davis

Referee: T Foley

Attendance: 895