Falcons 13 Chiefs 23

Newcastle Falcons 13

Exeter Chiefs 23

Mark Stevens at Kingston Park

With Stuart Lancaster’s options for the England No.2 jersey somewhat stretched right now, Exeter Chiefs starlet Luke Cowan-Dickie reminded the Red Rose supremo of his blossoming talents.

The 20-year-old hooker was the stand-out figure as the Chiefs wrapped up their fourth season in English rugby’s top flight with a 23-13 victory on the road at Newcastle Falcons.

Cowan-Dickie not only claimed the first of Exeter’s three tries on the day, but his live-wire performance throughout would have been duly noted by the watching Lancaster in the back of the West Stand.

Tom Youngs’ withdrawal from England’s summer tour to New Zealand this week, coupled with a lingering doubt over Bath’s Rob Webber, means the Truro-born forward is firmly on Lancaster’s radar ahead of their impending trip to tackle the world champions.

Alongside Cowan-Dickie, Ben White and Fetu’u Vainikolo both crossed for tries, while fly-half Henry Slade wrapped up the win by kicking the remainder of the points for Rob Baxter’s side.

In reply, the Falcons claimed a late converted try through Mark Wilson, as well as two first half penalties from Joel Hodgson, but it was never enough to thwart the Chiefs, who leapfrogged Gloucester to claim eighth in the final standings.

Undone right at the death last time out against Harlequins, the Chiefs came into this last-day encounter having made three changes to their starting XV. Up front Ben Moon joined Cowan-Dickie in the front-row in place of Carl Rimmer and Jack Yeandle, while behind Slade was given the role of playmaker with leading points-scorer Gareth Steenson the man to make way.

Initially, though, it was the Falcons - who also made three changes to their side, bringing in Gary Strain, Oliver Tomaszczyk and debutant Ian Nagle - who made the early running as they set about their Devon rivals with a vibrant, attacking front that zoon brought about rewards for them.

Fly-half Hodgson landed a third minute penalty as rookie ref Craig Maxwell-Keys penalised the Chiefs for infringing at a ruck - and the same player doubled his tally just minutes later as the visitors were again found guilty of giving away a soft penalty midway inside their own half.

It was hardly the start the Chiefs had envisaged, but having recovered from Newcastle’s opening shots, they claimed the game’s opening try on 11 minutes through the impressive Cowan-Dickie.

Having won a penalty, Slade drilled the ball into the corner; the Chiefs claimed the resultant line-out and with their pack all in unison, they powerfully drove the young Cornishman over the whitewash for his maiden score in English rugby’s top flight.

The score clearly ignited the Chiefs who, on a difficult playing surface, were more than happy to attack at will using both forwards and backs in tandem to try and pick a way through the home rearguard.

Pressure was clearly building from Baxter’s men, who having seen Dave Lewis felled by a terrific last-gasp tackle from Hodgson after he broke clear of the cover, finally edged in front when Slade atoned for his conversion miss by landing a penalty after Cowan-Dickie had again terrorised the home side with two relentless charges through the middle.

At the other end, the Falcons threatened momentarily when their backs fashioned a clever opening for Argentinian international Gonzalo Tiesi, but the Exeter defence scrambled sufficiently to deny the centre, before eventually winning the turnover to clear the danger.

With the Falcons threat repelled, the Chiefs once more positioned themselves back down field to claim a second score just before the interval. Departing prop Hoani Tui led the raid with two drives just metres from the line; then with his fellow forwards working tirelessly around them, the Chiefs fashioned quick ball to allow White to cross for his eighth try of the season that Slade duly converted.

HALF TIME NEWCASTLE FALCONS 6 EXETER CHIEFS 15

On the resumption, Samoan powerhouse Sinoti Sinoti sounded an early warning shot for the hosts with a charging run down the left flank; whilst at the other end Chiefs skipper Dean Mumm was denied a try of his own when referee Maxwell-Keys pulled the Aussie ace up for crossing in midfield.

Falcons coach Dean Richards threw on a clutch of new faces to try and liven up his side’s display, but it failed to have the desired effect as the Chiefs continued to go about their work without too much fuss.

Cowan-Dickie continued to be a constant threat in between a spate of kick tennis between the respective sides; whilst more dogged work from the Exeter pack around the fringes brought further reward when the home side were adjudged to have strayed offside. Slade dispatched the resultant penalty with aplomb to give his side a 12-point cushion.

The Falcons, to their credit, refused to lie down despite the deficit and they caused concern in the Exeter ranks when the dangerous Sinoti barged his way through three tackles to get them on the front foot. Sadly, the winger’s endeavours were all in vain as again the Chiefs scrambled sufficiently to thwart the Northerners.

Such was the desire to keep their line intact, the Chiefs not only dented Newcastle’s attacking aspirations, but they threatened to add to their tally when a turnover allowed Hill to race clear from his own 22. Unfortunately the young centre could not finish the job off as the swamp-like conditions underfoot curtailed his speed and he was eventually gobbled up by the recovering Noah Cato.

Like Richards earlier in the contest, Baxter took the opportunity to run his bench, replacing his entire front-row just past the hour mark. It signalled the end of the line in Exeter colours for the popular Tui who, after 122 appearances, is heading across the Channel next season to see out the final years of an impressive playing career.

Even without Tui on board for the final quarter, Exeter continued to boss proceedings. Replacement Steenson saw a penalty chance sail wide of the mark, whilst an audacious drop-goal attempt from Phil Dollman fell well short.

The Chiefs, though, were not finished and having turned the Falcons over for the umpteenth time just inside their own half, Haydn Thomas latched onto the loose ball before scampering clear and feeding Tongan international Vainikolo, who did the rest with probably one of the easiest finishes of the season.

With just over a minute remaining, the Chiefs rushed the conversion attempt in a bid to set-up the possibility of trying to claim an all-important fourth try.

Sadly it did not materialise and it was the Falcons who had the final say when No.8 Wilson was able to gallop through the Chiefs defence with the last play of the game to claim a consolation score that Phil Godman duly converted.

Although Wilson’s late touchdown gave the home faithful something to cheer about in what has been a tough season, it was the travelling Tribe who were in full cry come the final whistle as they saluted a fitting end to another memorable season for Devon’s finest.

 

Falcons: A Tait; N Cato, G Tiesi (L Smith 51), J Fitzpatrick, S Sinoti; J Hodgson (P Godman 58), M Blair (W Fury 52); G Strain, S Lawson (G McGuigan 48), O Tomaszczyk (K Brookes 48); I Nagle (S Macleod ht), D Barrow; R Mayhew (A Saull 44-53), W Welch (capt), M Wilson. Replacement (not used): S Wilson

Try - Wilson; Conversion - Godman; Penalties - Hodgson (2)

Chiefs: P Dollman (T James 80); F Vainikolo, I Whitten, S Hill (G Steenson 64), M Jess; H Slade, D Lewis (H Thomas 69); B Moon (C Rimmer 64), L Cowan-Dickie (J Yeandle 64), H Tui (A Brown 64); D Mumm (capt, J Phillips 61), D Welch; B White (T Johnson 51), J Scaysbrook, K Horstmann.

Tries - Cowan-Dickie, White, Vainikolo; Conversion - Slade; Penalties - Slade (2)

Referee: C Maxwell-Keys.

Attendance: 4,555