Pellow disappointed with defeat

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Braves coach Ricky Pellow has spoken of his disappointment after watching his side wrap up their Southern Group section in this season's Aviva Premiership A League with defeat at home to Harlequins.

With the Braves needing a victory to ensure they advanced into the latter stages of the competition, the visiting Londoners all but ended their hopes of qualification as they departed Sandy Park with a 34-23 success.

In a pulsating encounter at Sandy Park, the visitors claimed maximum reward from their trip to the Westcountry as they ran in tries from Joe Trayfoot, Charlie Walker, Jack Clifford and Ben Botica, who finished the night with an impressive 19-point haul.

The Braves played their part on the night claiming converted scores of their own through hooker Greg Bateman and winger Sam Blanchet, as well as further kicks from Ceri Sweeney and Jack Arnott. However, the loss – a second at home in the competition – means the Devon club will now have to depend on results elsewhere going in their favour if they are to advance into the last four.

"We're really disappointed with the result," admitted Pellow afterwards. "After picking up a great win at Bath the week before, we've let the position of qualifying for the latter stages now slip out of our hands. Now, we just have to see what happens with the remaining fixtures, but it's not looking good for us.

"Had we have beaten Harlequins we would have been in the last four and looking forward to a semi-final of some sorts, but now that probably looks unlikely. Collectively, we just didn't perform in the game and we allowed Harlequins too much time and space, which they took advantage of.

"There were a few good individual performances from some of the guys, but it wasn't enough on the night. I think when we look back at the video we'll see lots of things that we should have done better - and that's something we will need to learn from as we look to move forward."

Pellow added: "Like every competition, we want to be competing at the very top end and we saw this as a great chance to advance into the semi-finals. Full credit to Harlequins for the game they played, but as a club we want to be playing in the big games and testing ourselves against the very best sides.

"Again the A League has been good in allowing us to blood a few young players - guys like Jack Innard and Tom Hendrickson - and we've also been able to get a few of the more senior guys up and running and with some decent game time under their belts, but as I said we're disappointed that we've not finished the job off."