Pellow 'over the moon' with win
By Mark Stevens
3/2/18
Ricky Pellow admitted he was ‘over the moon’ after watching his Exeter Chiefs book a home semi-final in this season’s Anglo-Welsh Cup with a 43-20 victory over Saracens at Sandy Park.
Knowing they had to secure all five points against the Londoners to advance within the competition, the Chiefs didn’t disappoint on home soil, running in seven tries to ensure they finished top of the pile in Pool 2.
Tom O’Flaherty and Ollie Devoto both bagged two tries apiece, whilst there were further touchdowns for Moray Low, Jack Maunder and replacement Paul Davis. Fly-half Joe Simmonds completed the scoring by landing four conversions.
Saracens countered with tries of their own through Tom Whiteley, Rotimi Segun, Max Malins and Tom Lindsay, but this was mere consolation against a Chiefs side, who have now made four successive semi-final appearances in the competition.
“I’m over the moon,” said Exeter skills coach Pellow at the final whistle. ““ am very, very proud of this group of players. They have worked very hard, not just today, but over this block of Anglo-Welsh Cup matches.
“If you had said to us last week, after the disappointing result up at Worcester, that this would be the outcome, we would have taken it. I think everybody had their calculators out at the end to try and work out whether we had a home semi-final or not, and there are a lot of players who have put their bodies on the line and deserve to be in a home semi-final.
“Our mindset throughout was that we knew we had to go after tries. Fair play to Saracens, they made us fight for everything out there today. It shows the strength of their squad that they battled hard and we’re willing to stay in the fight right until the end. At the same time, I have to praise our own character because the guys just kept going and going, especially towards the end, and they really pushed through to get that crucial try.”
Indeed, until Davis - on his competitive debut for the Devon club - touched down with just a few minutes remaining, it appeared the Chiefs would be heading for an away semi-final date against Newcastle Falcons, who themselves wrapped up the pool stages with a convincing victory at home to Gloucester.
The former Exeter University hooker was on hand to not only claim his maiden score in Chiefs colours but, more importantly, put his side back in front on the try tally, thus ensuring Pellow’s side would have home advantage in the last four.
“What a way to finish it for Paul!” added Pellow. “He has been out with a long-term injury to his neck and to come in and score such a crucial try, he will be over the moon.
“He has made his return gradually. he has been playing at Taunton week in and week out and getting some game time there, but being in the front row, it is quite a testing position to have such an injury.
“So for him to come back today, and just to get on the pitch and play is a credit to himself, and to score at the end shows not just the character in him, but the character in our squad that we can win and get a home semi as well.”
As well as singling out Davis for praise, Pellow was also quick to highlight the contributions of winger O’Flaherty and centre Devoto.
“Tom has been outstanding. In all of the games he has played, he is our dangerman, he is very good with ball in hand, he is strong and very wiry and he creates a lot of opportunities,” said Pellow.
“Ollie is strong on the ball and we had to create the space today as Saracens are a very good defensive side, and we had to work really hard, and Ollie carried well and deserved the tries he got, but Tom Hendrickson and a lot of the other guys also really fronted up today.”
Pellow was also pleased with debutant winger Santiago Cordero’s contribution.
“It took him a while to get into the game, but he is new to the club and it will take him a little bit of time to settle,” he said. “You could just see, when he had the ball in hand, what he could do, and when he was counter-attacking he always looked like he could do something out of nothing, and those are the types of players you want in your side.”