Shock defeat for Exeter Chiefs women

Cup defence hits roadblock

After a 73-0 win last week, Susie Appleby's Exeter side were looking to continue their Allianz cup defence against Worcester Warriors in their first home game of the season.

In a first half that could only be described as error-strewn, with constant unforced mistakes from both teams, Exeter did find them themselves leading 14-8 at the break.

Chiefs started quickly, scoring a try instantly in the third minute through number eight Maisy Allen from close range. The following kick was converted by centre Liv McGoverne, putting Exeter up 7-0.

However, this didn't last long, as multiple penalties eventually resulted in three points for Worcester, scored by full-back Cat McNaney. After this point, the Chiefs never really seemed to take control of the game at any point., with silly mistakes plaguing their play. They had multiple promising chances, but always lost the ball just as a try seemed imminent.

Exeter's second try came in between two extremely sloppy periods. It was pretty much a mirror image of the first try; gaining ground slowly over numerous phases and eventually forcing the ball over the tryline, this time by lock Nichola Fryday, putting Exeter up 14-3.

However this was the only bit of quality showed in a long time by the Chiefs in a poor-quality game, exacerbated by constant missing touch from penalties for both teams.

As half-time loomed, the Warriors showed Exeter the game was far from over with an emphatic try. It was conceded after a long period of play right next to the line, when eventually some space opened up and Captain Vicky Laflin broke and ran from the wing, to make it 14-8 going into the break.

The second half carried on in a similar vein, with Exeter being the better team skill and strength-wise, but making repeated errors that cost them so much, allowing Worcester to claw their way back into a game that on paper they should have been dominated in. Except, at the end of this half, the Warriors came out leading.

The Chiefs needed a try to settle the nerves, and that's just what they got. Cliodhna Molony's great winding break was thwarted right before the line, but she dropped perfectly to offload the ball to Charlie Willott, who bundled it over. McGoverne hadn't missed a conversion yet - and she didn't miss this one either. At this point, the game looked to be in Exeter hands with a 21-8 lead.

But a long-range penalty from replacement Evelyn Clarke and a try not long after put the game back on a knifes edge. The try was well-deserved - a deep break from wing-forward Charlotte Wright-Haley couldn't be stopped.

She plunged down over the line for five points, the same amount of points as was now the gap between them and the home team, who were committing schoolboy errors all over the pitch - although maybe that phrase isn't suitable in this context.

The last 20 was pretty much identical to the last 20 of the first half - Worcester pushing and pushing for that winning try, and Exeter losing the ball at every opportunity they had.

To rub salt in the Exeter player wounds, the winning Warriors try was accomplished by an old Chiefs trademark. Worcester attempted a rolling maul, which Exeter had tried multiple times this game but never seemed to get it right, and it came off perfectly.

The ball was eventually placed down past the line by Evelyn Clarke, which made the scores level, a shocking result in itself. The subsequent kick was converted for the first time this match - completing the shock comeback for the Warriors.

A 23-21 victory for the massive underdogs. Exeter earn a losing bonus point. It's a disappointment.

For a club undertaking a desperate re-brand, the women's team will need to step up their play if they keep getting these 4,000+ crowds - who were perhaps attracted by the offer of free tickets.

Attracting this many people and playing at the level seen against Worcester will only disappoint home fans. Perhaps this was just a blip in the journey.

Exeter Chiefs

Starting 15 -

Katie Buchanan, Charlie Woodman, Nancy McGillivray, Liv McGoverne, Halley Derera, Flo Robinson, Brooke Bradley, Michaella Roberts, Cliodhna Molony, Lizzie Hanlon, Nichola Fryday, Charlie Willett, Ebony Jefferies, Poppy Leitch (C), Maisy Allen

Replacements -

Clara Nielson, Panashe Muzambe, Georgie Grimes, Katrina Hayes, Edel McMahon, Sophie Langford, Danielle Preece, Merryn Diodge, Niamh Orchard, Evie Walker

Worcester Warriors Starting 15 -

Cat McNaney, Deborah Wills, Carys Cox, Hannah Bluck, Vicky Laflin (CC), Abi Kershaw, Jess Kershaw, Stef Evans, El Febrey, Flo Long, Amelia Buckland-Hurry, Siobhan McCarthy, Cara Brincat, Charlotte Wright-Haley, Jo Brown (CC)

Replacements - 

Carmen Tremelling, Catherine Wells, Elizabeth Shermer, Sara Moreira, Tori Sellors, Leagh Brough, Evelyn Clarke