Falcons 24 Chiefs 21
Newcastle Falcons 24
Exeter Chiefs 21
Mark Stevens at Kingston Park
By their own admissions, some tough talking needs to be had within the ranks of the Exeter Chiefs.
It will begin on the long trek back from the North East tonight following a fourth Gallagher Premiership defeat in five for Rob Baxter’s side, who slipped to a 24-21 loss at Newcastle Falcons.
In what will no doubt be another ‘video nasty’ next week, the review of this latest top-flight outing will once again highlight elementary errors and a lack of accuracy which are hurting the Chiefs badly.
Three converted tries for Ruben Van Heerden, Jack Yeandle and Scott Sio were the highlights at Kingston Park, but it was the other stuff in between that will be of more concern to Baxter and his fellow coaches moving forward.
Like their rivals, the Falcons - who had only won once at home in the league in 2022 - scored three tries of their own through George McGuigan, Mateo Carreras and Guy Pepper, as well as a crucial match-winning penalty from fly-half Brett Connon.
It was enough to not only give them the victory on the night, but heap further woe on the Chiefs, whose next Premiership outing will not be until their Christmas Eve encounter with Bath at Sandy Park.
Returning to action for the first time in a fortnight, Baxter stuck largely with the same line-up that saw them to victory against London Irish last time out. The visitors did, however, welcome back the experienced duo of Yeandle and Ian Whitten, the latter of whom was making his 200th Premiership appearance for the club.
The Falcons, meanwhile, were themselves flying high after their victory at Gloucester in Round 10 and were able to call upon Argentinian duo Carreras and Matias Moroni following the Autumn internationals, as well as drafting in prop Adam Brocklebank at the last minute.
Personnel in place, the game set off a breakneck pace with both sides throwing themselves into some heavyweight collisions. It was, however, the hosts who broke the deadlock on six minutes with the game’s opening try.
Making the most of a high tackle from Christ Tshiunza on Newcastle skipper Micky Young, the Falcons used the resultant penalty to position themselves deep inside the Chiefs 22. McGuigan found Greg Peterson with the line-out which, although held initially by Baxter’s side, was able to instigate a second thrust, the fruits of which saw McGuigan burrow over for his eighth try of the campaign.
It was a dream start for the Falcons, but home joy proved short-lived as the Chiefs levelled things up inside five minutes. Working their way through some patient multi-phase attack, Simmonds and Josh Hodge combined to good effect, only for the latter to be cut down just shy of the line. Support, though, was close at hand and there was Van Heerden to bulldoze his way over for his fourth converted score in as many games.
With little to choose between either side, it was the Falcons who got themselves back on the front foot. A clever snipe from Moroni saw him slalom his way through the middle of the Chiefs midfield, but as he tried to find his way around Hodge, the Exeter full-back chopped him to the floor with an excellent, try-saving tackle.
The respite, though, was only momentary and within minutes the Falcons were back in front when they created time and space for Pumas winger Carreras to side-step his way down the left flank, before brushing off the attentions of Hodge on his way to the try-line.
Newcastle were looking comfortable for their lead as the first half minutes ticked by, but with half time looming the Chiefs hauled themselves back level for a second time through Yeandle. Exeter’s long-serving captain was on hand to finish from a close-range line-out after the Falcons had buckled under some sustained pressure.
No sooner had the Chiefs drawn level, they preceded to shoot themselves in the foot, making a hash of the restart and conceding a penalty of their own. The Falcons declined the kick at goal, opting for greater reward in the corner. It was a shrewd move as from the line-out which, although held at first, was worked back inside for Pepper to find his way over.
For added disappointment, referee Karl Dickson sin-binned Van Heerden for a professional foul.
HALF TIME: NEWCASTLE FALCONS 21 EXETER CHIEFS 14
It was a sucker punch the Chiefs could ill afford, but they re-emerged for the second half determined to get their show back on track at the earliest opportunity.
Sure, the visitors offered a fair share of hustle and bustle, but with the Falcons bossing the breakdown and the penalty count continuing to rise, all their best laid plans were falling flat on their face.
At the other end, Newcastle replacement Freddie Lockwood almost had the dream introduction into the game, when he latched onto a pass and started heading for the whitewash. However, just as he looked set to score, he spilled the ball under pressure and the chance was lost.
Baxter had seen enough and turned to his bench in a bid to freshen things up. The heavyweight might of Messrs Sio, Frost, Schickerling and Ewers was noticeable, whilst Solomone Kata’s introduction also gave them a more direct approach to their back play.
With momentum building, the Chiefs started to work their multi-phase game into play. Indeed, they thought they had fashioned a third score, but as Frost looked to dot down, the ball was knocked from his grasp and the chance was lost.
Connon extended Newcastle’s lead to two scores with a penalty just past the hour mark, before the Chiefs reignited their own charge with a third try of their own. Aussie international Sio claiming his first in Exeter colours to set-up a grandstand finale to the match.
The Falcons, though, would not be denied and having positioned the Chiefs back deep inside their own half, they challenged their rivals to go the length of the field to rescue something from their night.
The Chiefs had a good crack at things, working their way to midway inside the Falcons half with time up on the clock, but when push came to shove they failed to make the most of the opportunity, Tshiunza coughing up possession.
It summed up the night for the Chiefs, who have plenty to ponder moving forward.
Falcons: E Obatoyinbo; B Stevenson (A Radwan 67), M Moroni, T Penny (M Orlando 40), M Carreras; B Connon, M Young (capt, S Stuart 60); A Brocklebank, G McGuigan, R Palframan (L Mulipola 55); G Peterson (S Robinson 63), S de Chaves; C Chick, G Pepper (J Blamire 67), C Fearns (F Lockwood 52, C Cade 75).
Tries - McGuigan, Carreras, Pepper; Conversions - Connon (3); Penalty - Connon
Chiefs: J Hodge; D John, S O’Brien (S Kata 59), I Whitten, O Woodburn; J Simmonds, J Maunder (S Maunder); A Hepburn (S Sio 53), J Yeandle (capt, D Frost 58), H Williams (P Schickerling 58); R Van Heerden (J Dunne 67), D Jenkins; L Pearson (D Ewers 53), C Tshiunza, J Vermeulen. Replacement (not used): W Becconsall.
Tries - Van Heerden, Yeandle, Sio; Conversions - J Simmonds (3)
Yellow Card: Van Heerden
Referee: K Dickson
Attendance: 3,126