Chiefs 44 Sharks 16

Exeter Chiefs 44

Sale Sharks 16

Mark Stevens at Sandy Park

In the end it wasn’t quite to be for Exeter Chiefs, but boy did Rob Baxter’s troops give it one hell of a go in their final Aviva Premiership battle of the season.

With results in Leicester and Oxford ultimately transpiring against them, Devon’s finest just missed out in the final shake-up as the Tigers and Saracens joined Northampton Saints and Bath in next week’s play-off semi-finals.
In truth, the Chiefs could have done no more, seven tries on the day courtesy of Ian Whitten, Jack Nowell, Ben White, Matt Jess (2), Henry Slade and Byron McGuigan were the highlights as Exeter bowed out on a sensational high.

Gareth Steenson plundered the remainder of the home points with his trusty right boot, whilst in reply two tries from No.8 Josh Beaumont and a couple of penalties from Danny Cipriani were all the Sharks could muster.

Heading into the final day of the regular season as one of three contenders for the final play-off berths, it was little surprise that Baxter stuck largely with the tried and trusted that had so bravely seen off Saracens the week previous.

England international Nowell, who missed the trip to Allianz Park, returned to take up full-back role, whilst up front a knock to the head meant Dave Ewers missed out and Don Armand returned to the starting line-up for the first time in weeks.

Sale, who themselves had an outside chance of claiming the final Champions Cup berth depending on a victory in Devon and a loss for Wasps at London Irish, were also at full-strength having rounded off their home campaign with victory over Newcastle Falcons last time out.

From the outset, though, it was the Chiefs who set the tone on a baking hot day in the Westcountry. Early pressure up front resulted in a scrum penalty bang in front of the Sharks posts on two minutes and up stepped Steenson to drill over the resultant kick.

It was the ideal start for Baxter’s side who, on nine minutes, extended their lead when the pack punched their way deep into the Sale 22 before Steenson released Nowell and the Cornishman flung a superb pass to his right where Whitten was able to cross in the right-hand corner for the opening try.

But having built an early advantage, the Chiefs failed to build on their supremacy and it was Sale who struck in style. Fly-half Cipriani slotted two successful penalties in the space of a few minutes, before Beaumont galloped over in the left corner after the visitors had cleverly worked the ball from one side of the field to the other with some instinctive passing.

However, as half time drew ever nearer, so the Chiefs re-established their grip on proceedings. The pack once again laid the foundations with some grunt up front, before the ball was worked at pace along the Exeter back division to Nowell, who did the rest with a slick finish, stepping inside two defenders to cross for the home side’s second try that Steenson duly converted.

Even then Sale threatened to hit back in the final minute of the first period, but Tom Arscott’s punt in behind had too much on it and Nowell was able to shepherd the ball out with relative ease.

HALF TIME EXETER CHIEFS 15 SALE SHARKS 11

With results elsewhere sitting favourably at the break for the Chiefs, the home side re-emerged determined to keep their end of the bargain up in the final mix.



Just five minutes had elapsed when the hosts struck for a third try. Huge carries from Sam Hill, Dean Mumm, Mitch Lees and Thomas Waldrom set the tone for White to pick up five metres out and – aided by prop Ben Moon – the openside was driven over for the score, which Steenson duly converted.

Almost immediately, the Sharks countered biting their rivals with a try seemingly out of nothing. Initially raiding down the right flank, the Salford-based club worked the ball back across the field where Cobilas lobbed a pass out wide to Beaumont, who did the rest with a simple finish in the corner.

That, however, would be as good as it got for Steve Diamond’s side as first centre Johnny Leota was lucky to escape a red card for a crude high tackle on scrum-half Will Chudley.

In an instance, the Chiefs made the most of the man advantage, working a slick move out wide where Jess was able to dart across the whitewash to make it 27-16 just before the hour mark.

Moments later and the ‘Heamoor Flyer’ was at it again, this time racing in from deep inside his own half after the Chiefs had turned their rivals over in attack before Kai Horstmann and Whitten linked cleverly to release the Chiefs left winger on the run.

As Sandy Park erupted with delight, the home faithful were given even more reason to cheer when Slade got in on the try-scoring act, finishing from close range, even though referee Wayne Barnes double checked with the TMO before eventually awarding the score.

Elsewhere scorelines were turning against the Chiefs, who were given added impetus when Sale’s long-serving winger Mark Cueto was sent to the sin-bin for deliberately knocking down a Slade pass intended for Nowell.

It was hardly the way Cueto, who bows on 90 top flight tries, would have wanted to see out his Premiership career. But the Sale favourite was afforded a standing ovation from all corners of Sandy Park.



Even then there was still time for yet more drama as first Exeter replacement Alex Brown and Sale counterpart Ross Harrison traded blows just yards from the visiting lines.

In the subsequent aftermath, Brown saw yellow from Barnes, while Harrison was given a red for his actions, which included four punches to Brown’s face.

Although the play-off dream had evaporated by this point, the Chiefs were not finished and in one sterling conclusion to the contest, McGuigan got in on the act to add a sixth try, finishing off a decent pass from the impressive Slade.

A World Cup summer now awaits those who love the game of rugby here in Exeter, but already the excitement is building amongst the Tribe, who will not only be back for more in the Premiership, but also the Champions Cup as well.
Chiefs: J Nowell (M Bodilly 80); I Whitten, H Slade, S Hill (B McGuigan 46), M Jess; G Steenson, W Chudley (D Lewis 55); B Moon (C Rimmer 56), L Cowan-Dickie (J Yeandle 56), T Francis (A Brown 56); D Mumm (capt), M Lees (D Welch 68); D Armand (Francis 80), B White (K Horstmann 51), T Waldrom.

Tries - Whitten, Nowell, White, Jess (2), Slade, McGuigan; Conversions - Steenson (3); Penalty - Steenson

Yellow Card: Brown

Sale: T Arscott (M Haley 61); T Brady, J Leota, S Tuitupou, M Cueto; D Ciprani (J Ford 68), C Cusiter (W Cliff 59), E Lewis-Roberts (R Harrison 59), T Taylor (M Jones 59), V Cobillas (C Parker 59); J Mills (M Paterson 59), N Hines; D Braid (capt, M Easter 59), D Seymour (Lewis-Roberts 80), J Beaumont.

Tries - Beaumont (2); Penalties - Cipriani (2)

Yellow Cards: Leota, Cueto

Red Card: Harrison

Referee: W Barnes

Attendance: 12,642