Chiefs say goodbye to coach Pellow win a win

Narrow victory over Bristol Bears

Chiefs and Bears both came into this wet and windy match day hoping to climb up their pool in the Premiership Rugby Cup. However with international games underway, both teams were compelled to deploy weaker sides. 

For the Chiefs, this was also skills coach Ricky Pellow’s last game after 16 years at the club. Therefore both players and coaches wanted a great send off for the veteran coach.  

Big news for Louie Gulley, who at 20 years old, captained Exeter for the first time. Alongside players from the Exeter University team, Beckerley, Worley Brady and Ridl, meant both the starting 15 and the bench was filled with youngsters, looking to impress to the fans and head coach Rob Baxter. 

The Chiefs had experience too. With Pearson, Tumia and Capstick all in the pack, the Devon side was looking for a big win against a fierce Bristol side. 

And that’s exactly what happened. Following a penalty kick to the corner, Chiefs went through the phases, until Ollie Batson broke through the defence to score within four minutes. The conversion was quickly taken and a lucky bounce off the post, put Exeter Chiefs up 7-0. 

As the rain slowly stopped, the Bears tried to hit back quickly, but Exeter weren’t letting anything get past them. As the clock strikes 20 minutes, Bristol crosses the line, only for the Chiefs to hold them up and win a scrum. 

Big hits and a strong kick chase gives the home side a promising attack in which they, once again, play through the phases. With the Bristol team offside, Exeter kept kicking to the corner until eventually the captain and home debutant, Gulley was pushed over the line for the second score of the day. The conversion was unsuccessful, but Exeter were 12 points up with less than 10 minutes left in the half. 

However, Bristol weren’t going to let that be the last action of the half. Following a break from the opposition scrum half, Boshchoff, the winger, had a clean run into the try area to put the Bears within 5 points of Exeter. 

A Bristol Bears penalty followed by one last, unsuccessful, chance closed the half at 12-10 to Exeter Chiefs.   

As the second half commenced, Gulley was substituted for Heaven, adding fresh legs to the forward pack. Bears also made some changes, adding to their pack as well as swapping out their inside centres giving us just as much energy and power as the first half provided.

An even second half with both sides putting up strong defences, but also dropping a few balls, is only broken in the 56th minute as a Bristol cross field kick gets the away side into the Chiefs 22. A yellow card for Pearson put Bristol in a dangerous position. However, nobody could expect the following events. 

In a maul on the five-metre line, Moloney ripped the ball and is away. A pass and a kick into the open field saw Campbell Ridl sprint from the opposition and score on his home debut. The successful conversion meant that Exeter Chiefs had extended their lead to 19-10.  

And it didn’t stop there. Further attacks from the home side forced the Bears to give away a penalty, which Haydon-Wood slotted.

With Pearson back on the pitch following his sin binning, plus further substitutions, swapping Tuima and Capstick for debutants Beckerleg and Worley Brady, the Chiefs looked like they had a strong hold on this game and did not want to let it go. Yet the Bears had other plans.

Only a few minutes after such a promising lead was taken, a beautiful cross field kick put Boschoff on the score sheet once again and the following conversion kick put Bristol back within five points. With six minutes to go, Bristol were not giving up. 

However, the Chiesf that got the last say after some messy moves from both sides, Exeter ended up on the five-metre line, playing through the pack. A penalty given away wasn’t enough to give the Chiefs a final score, but they kicked it out to win 22-17.

A strong win that gives Exeter Chiefs a second win in the Premiership Rugby Cup. A great way to end coach Pellow's Chiefs career.