Cup defeat frustrates Pellow

by Nigel Walrond
5/11/16

Exeter Chiefs coach Ricky Pellow admitted it had been a ‘tough night’ for his side as they lost 29-15 in their Anglo-Welsh Cup pool opener at Harlequins.

"It is not the way we wanted to start the competition," he said. "We knew it was going to be tough coming up to Harlequins, and we talked during the week and before the match that we had to rip the game away from them.

"I cannot fault the boys for the effort they put in, but we just have to be a little bit more clinical, and around that breakdown area we gave away a lot of penalties, both in our attack and when they jackalled the ball, so we had to be clinical in that particular area.

"The penalty count against us was pretty high, so we have got to take those penalties out of the equation and be a lot more clinical.

"We created opportunities and we were in there for a period, and there was about 20 minutes when the momentum swung and Quins took their opportunities and we fell off a little bit.

"It was pleasing the way we came back into it, and we tried to fight our way back into the game, but we just couldn’t get the losing bonus point and then the win at the end.’

It was another night of picking up injuries for Chiefs, and they lost Will Hooley after only eight minutes to a hefty tackle from Quins No.8 Mat Luamanu that saw him yellow carded.

"It was a big old hit, and it was disappointing to lose Will, but Joe Simmonds came in and stood up and controlled the game well," said Pellow. "We picked up a few injuries, that changed our structure in attack and defence, but those young guys who came in fronted up and some of the senior guys did as well.

"It is frustrating and not the way we wanted to start this competition, and the frustration is a bit more in our performance than the result."

Talking about the numerous penalties Chiefs gave away (16 in total to Quins’ eight), Pellow said: ‘It was things we were in control of. It is nothing to do with the referee or the opposition. It was about our body heights at the breakdown, and taking a few players off the ball.

"We will reset on Tuesday as we prepare for Cardiff Blues next Sunday. We have got a big week ahead of us, and if we can bang in a result at home in front of our own fans, that will get us back into the competition and up and running.

"The way this format works, Quins are not in our group. Worcester won with a bonus point, Sale won, and they have both still got to play Quins, so if we can pick up a really good win next week, when we come back into the Anglo-Welsh Cup later on in the season we will be still fighting.

"What we have got to do now is address the things that went wrong tonight and put them right in the training week, and then really hit the ground running on Sunday."

Looking at the number of youngsters who made their debuts, Pellow said: "That was their first senior game so to get those guys on the pitch, and get them game time, and give them an experience like that is really pleasing as an Academy structure and for us moving forwa