Welch targets the last four

By Mark Stevens

Damian Welch says Exeter Chiefs will be looking to put the frustrations of last weekend’s loss at Leicester Tigers firmly behind them as they target a place in the last four of this season’s European Challenge Cup this weekend.

Rob Baxter’s side entertain Aviva Premiership rivals Newcastle Falcons at Sandy Park tomorrow (8pm) knowing they are just a game away from a semi-final date against either Gloucester or Connacht.

Already this season the Chiefs have featured in the LV= Cup Final, narrowly going down to Saracens, and Welch says the Exeter squad are determined to keep their season alive by advancing to the latter stages of both Europe and the Premiership over the coming weeks.

“We’ve already been in one Cup Final this season and we’re all keen to get to another,” said the towering lock, who joined the Chiefs in 2012 from the Scarlets.

“We’ve gone well in Europe this season and, a bit like the LV, it’s been a real squad effort, so if we could get to a semi-final or a final again, it will be pretty special just because so many of the boys have played their part.”

However, Welch knows the visiting Falcons will be no pushovers and says the Devon club will need to be at their top of the game if they are to advance further.

“We know Newcastle are a very good side,” warned Welch. “They beat us up at their place in the league, but then we beat them down here. Those two games, however, will be irrelevant this weekend, it’s knockout rugby now and it’s who performs the best on the day.

“Being at home will obviously help our cause, but Newcastle will know they have a great opportunity as well to advance, so we have to be focused, on top our game and look to drive home that win on Saturday.”

Although the Chiefs come into the game on the back of defeat at Welford Road a week ago, Welch says mood within the Exeter camp remains upbeat and that they must look to replicate their second half showing against the Tigers from the outset tomorrow.

“I think the major frustration from last week is from 1 to 15, we didn’t turn up in that first half,” he explained. “We went through our patterns and our systems, but we didn’t have any real bite to them. If we’re honest, we let ourselves down a bit, but in the second half we saw the real Chiefs and we were a different animal.”

Such was the fighting spirit of Baxter’s side during that second period that they were able to rescue what could be a vital losing bonus point with the very last kick of the game.

“No one knows quite how the league will pan out,” said Welch. “We’ve got some big teams to play between now and the end of the season, but to come away from Welford Road at this time of the season with a losing bonus point - especially when it looked as though we may be getting nothing - it was a major fillip to the boys and could be really crucial come the end.

“We all know there is lots to play for and the fact Deano is leaving at the end of the season. it’s a massive spur for us to try and finish on a high for him. All the squad are desperate to get into the play-offs and play in European finals because it would cement what has been a great season for us. To do all that, though, we have to work hard for one another and keep producing big performances ever week.”

Tickets for tomorrow’s clash are still available online via the official Exeter Chiefs website, click here to book your place