Match Report: Chiefs 22 – 17 Bears

Exeter Chiefs sent departing skills coach Ricky Pellow out on a high with a win over Bristol Bears at Sandy Park in round five of the PREM Rugby Cup on Saturday afternoon.

It was far from a fairytale performance, but the Exeter men were able to grind out the win, though they narrowly missed out on a try bonus-point despite camping out in the Bristol 22 in the closing minutes.

Chiefs put the pressure on from the word go, forcing Bears back into their half, powerful work from Bachuki Tchumbadze securing possession. Chiefs made quick work eating up the yards, getting into the 22. A jink-step from Will Rigg fooled the defenders on the line and the centre forced himself over for the try.

Fly-half Will Haydon-Wood took on kicking duties and despite the ball rebounding off the left upright, slotted the conversion.

On a day that was already special for Crediton-born Louie Gulley, the youngster leading Chiefs as captain in his second appearance, was made all the more memorable when he scored Chiefs’ second try on a half hour.

Throwing a precise lineout on the five-metre line, he joined the rear of the maul and took control of the ball. Driving for the line, he crashed down upon the whitewash to the thunderous cheers of his teammates and the home crowd, the youngster letting out a bellow of his own in excitement as he got back to his feet.

A try from Aidan Boshoff ensured the Bears weren’t held pointless. A break which started with a chip and chase from scrum-half Sam Wolstenholme, and included a heroic Tom Cairns tackle on Max Lahiff to deny the prop, ended with the winger taking a final pass on a man overlap to run the ball in.

Fly-half Sam Worsley converted the score to bring the Bears within an unconverted try.

Chiefs were penalised for straying offside just inside their own half with two minutes left on the clock and Worsley opted for a kick at goal, closing the gap to two points.

Bristol fired back into the hunt before the half-time whistle went but a dominant charge-down from Lewis Pearson thwarted their plans and brought the half to a close.

Half-time: Chiefs 12 – 10 Bears

Having taken multiple hits to the ribs before getting his try in the first half, match captain Gulley was replaced at hooker at half-time by Julian Heaven. On Bristol’s side, Lahiff was given limited minutes on his injury return, replaced at the half by Louie Trevvett.

Chiefs were put under a sustained period of pressure in the middle third of the pitch in the opening stages from the restart. Ultimately forced back into their own 22, a yellow card shown to Pearson for repeated infringements reduced the defence’s manpower.

The crowd were stunned by what transpired in the immediate aftermath of the sin-binning. Martin Moloney stole possession at the maul, storming out of the muddle with ball in hand. The Irishman flicked an offload to Charlie Chapman who, spotting Campbell Ridl and Haydon-Wood in chase, put boot to ball.

Ridl put on the backburners, grubbering the ball downfield and timed his collection perfectly to dot the ball down beneath the posts for a try on debut. Haydon-Wood converted to take Chiefs two scores ahead.

A three-point penalty further benefited the Chiefs’ lead before Boshoff stole a try back when Dan John slipped on the soggy surface and was unable to compete in the one-on-one out wide. Worsley’s conversion brought the Bears close but the result was to be a Chiefs one.

Pellow was presented with a signed shirt in front of family and friends on the pitch post-match, commending the effort his players put in and highlighting the six players who have debuted in the last fortnight, making him confident the future looks bright for Chiefs.

Full-time: Chiefs 22 – 17 Bears

Chiefs: D John; P Brown-Bampoe, O Batson, W Rigg, C Ridl; W Haydon-Wood, T Cairns (Chapman 54’); E Burger (Mona 54’), L Gulley (c) (Heaven 40’), B Tchumbadze (J Roots 54’), L Pearson, R Tuima (Beckerleg 67’), J Bailey, M Moloney, R Capstick (Worley Brady 67’).

Unused replacements: Coen, Ascherl

Tries: Rigg, Gulley, Ridl Conversions: Haydon-Wood 2 Penalties: Haydon-Wood

Yellow card: Lewis Pearson

Bears: N Heward (Protheroe 54’); J Bates, V Worsnip, J Williams (Morris 40’), A Boshoff; S Worsley, S Wolstenholme (Bevan 64’); M Lahiff (Trevett 40’), H Thacker (c) (Ramply 66’), L Chawatama (Halliwell 49’), E Surrey (Grahamslaw 70’), S Barker, G Taylor (Gwilliam 40’), K Jenkins, J Edwards.

Tries: Boshoff 2 Conversions: Worsley 2 Penalties: Worsley

Referee: Richard Gordon