Saracens 23 Braves 41
Saracens Storm 23
Exeter Braves 41
Mark Stevens at Allianz Park
Exeter Braves maintained their perfect record in this season’s Aviva A League by seeing off hosts Saracens Storm with a seven-try success at Allianz Park.
Ricky Pellow’s side underlined their high-flying status in the Southern Conference with a polished performance against the Londoners.
Hooker Elvis Taione helped himself to a first half hat-trick of tries, while Marcus Street (2), Dan Frost and Charlie Davis were also on the scoresheet with touchdowns in a dominant display from the Devonians, whose remaining points came courtesy of three conversions from fly-half Sam Morley.
In reply, Tom Whiteley did his best to keep Saracens in contention. He raced over for a first half try, as well as adding two penalties and a conversion in his personal haul of 13 points. Tadgh McElroy and Conor Hayhow added the other tries for the home side.
Having gleaned a perfect four from four so far this season, the Braves arrived in the capital looking to not only preserve their proud record, but at the same time inflict a telling blow on one of their main rivals at the top end of the Southern Conference.
England international Jack Maunder headed up a powerful visiting line-up that included the likes of Taione, Carl Rimmer, Ollie Atkins and Dave Ewers, as well as Academy starlets such as Tom Lawday, Josh Caulfield, Street and Exeter University duo Morley and Sal M’Boge.
Saracens, with just one defeat in the competition prior to kick-off, paraded a more youthful outfit, which was skippered by talented playmaker Whiteley at fly-half. However, it was the hosts who started the game the brighter.
With kick-off delayed by 30 minutes due to a late arrival by not only the Braves, but the match-day ambulance, it was Saracens who raced out of the traps, stealing in front inside nine minutes when Whiteley landed a routine penalty after the visitors were penalised for straying offside in midfield.
The Saracens man then added to his tally just two minutes later, finishing off in the left corner after full-back Matt Gallagher - the son of former All Blacks star John Gallagher - caught the Braves napping when he fielded a Maunder box kick deep inside his own 22.
Eight points adrift inside the opening quarter, the Braves needed to summon a response of sorts quickly. This they did, however, as their first meaningful raid into the Sarries 22 saw them use a penalty kick to the corner to set-up a driving maul from which Taione was able to peel of the back and over for their opening try, which Morley converted with ease.
The score clearly ignited the Braves and for the remainder of the half they ruled the roost, particularly through their forwards. Knowing they had the edge not only in the loose, but also the set-piece, they used their dominance to drive home further reward.
Pressing forward in attack, the visitors went through countless attacking phases, before they turned to type and with it a simple pick-and-go game. They probed and prodded the Sarries line, before Exeter hooker Taione forced his way over for his second of the game.
Four minutes later and the Tongan international was celebrating his hat-trick, finishing off once more as the Braves propelled him over the line from another well-drilled catch-and-drive move just five metres from the home line.
Sarries looked to counter before the break in a bid to get them back into the contest, but when they were turned over with the final play of the first period, the Braves ruthless struck for the all-important fourth try. Prop Street the beneficiary on this occasion as he barged his way over with the aid of his fellow forwards.
HALF TIME SARACENS STORM 8 EXETER BRAVES 22
Clearly up against it having been blow away by the Braves during the second quarter, the Storm knew they needed to resume on the front foot. Early pressure saw them set up territory deep inside the Exeter half - from which they gleaned a successful penalty through Whiteley after Freeman was pulled up for a high tackle.
It was just what the doctor had ordered for the home side, but within an instance they were back on the defensive and having to defend their line. A sharp break through the heart of the home defensive line by Hendrickson saw him break clear of the cover, before the ball was shipped wide to the right to Street.
Still with plenty to do, the England Under-20s prop tore down the touchline, only to be felled just shy of the line by some desperate defending from the home side. The Braves, though, recycled the ball at pace and when it was worked back inside through a number of phases, Street had himself worked his way into position to plough his way under the posts for a fifth try, again converted by Morley.
Both sides took the opportunity to empty their replacements benches and in a nip-and-tuck few minutes, it was Saracens who countered to deadly effect, creating the opening for McElroy to force his way over for their second converted try of the contest.
Any hopes of a home revival, however, were quickly extinguished as back roared the Braves at the other end. Using their heavyweight pack to punch holes into the Saracens line, the pressure finally paid dividends creating the opening for Frost to work his way over for another converted Exeter try.
Although the contest was already done and dusted, Saracens continued to show some fight and they were rewarded late on when some fancy footwork from the impressive Whiteley saw him shake off the attentions of several Exeter defenders before his slipped a simple pass into the grasp of replacement Hayhow, who was able to scoot over unopposed for the home side’s third try of the game.
The last word, however, belonged to the Braves and with just minutes remaining, the visitors put the seal on an excellent performance when they worked a lovely opening off a scrum in centre field for replacement Davis to scamper over in the left corner.
Saracens Storm: M Gallagher; A Crossdale (C Hayhow 63), O Morris (E Obatiyinbo 57), R Bird-Tulloch (J Luca Smith 63), R Seguni; T Whiteley (capt), A Gilkstein; T Lamositele (F Pifelti 50), S Spurling (K Pifitele 54), K Longbottom (B Walker 50); D Cutmore, J Nay; T McElroy, S Reffell, A Christie (J Kpoku 27). Replacement (not used): R Adamshale.
Tries - Whiteley; McElroy, Hayhow; Conversion - Whiteley; Penalties - Whiteley (2)
Exeter Braves: S M’Boge (AJ Cant 69); T O’Flaherty, H Strong,T Hendrickson, H Cully (C Davis 72); S Morley, J Maunder (capt. A Bagwell 71); C Rimmer (J Kenny 71), E Taione (D Frost 59), M Street (J Owlett 59); O Atkins, J Caulfield (L Pearson 68); D Ewers (J McRae 54), J Freeman, T Lawday.
Tries - Taione (3), Street (2), Frost, Davis; Conversions - Morley (3)
Referee: L Apgeriant-Roberts
Attendance: 200