Exeter Braves 42 Bath United 22

Exeter Braves 43

Bath United 22

Mark Stevens at Sandy Park

Exeter Braves made it back-to-back victories in this season's Aviva A League as they brushed aside visiting Bath United with a seven-try success at Sandy Park.

Hooker Shaun Malton led the way for the home side with a hat-trick of tries, whilst there were further touchdowns for Max Bodilly, Michele Campagnaro and Ollie Atkins (2).

Fly-half Joe Simmonds completed the scoring for the Braves, who will now ready themselves for a date against top of the table Bristol United in a fortnight's time.

In reply, Bath's dogged efforts were rewarded on the night with a try bonus point that came courtesy of Levi Davies' try hat-trick and another from Will Partington. However, it was never enough to really thwart last season's champions.

Having collected their first win at Harlequins last time out, the Braves were hoping to make the most of home advantage against the division’s basement club.

Head coach Ricky Pellow named a formidable looking starting XV, which included not only seven internationals, but also a host of players with Premiership experience. Among those included from the outset were returning England star Jack Nowell for only his second appearance of the season, alongside Fijian international Niko Matawalu, who was making his first showing in Exeter colours following his recent switch from Bath.

Bath, meanwhile, arrived in Devon with a mixed line-up that included club captain Guy Mercer, as well as first team stars Jeff Williams, Adam Hastings, Nick Auterac and Michael Van Vuuren.

It was, however, the Braves who were first to show, opening their account inside three minutes with the game’s opening try. Italian international Campagnaro caused the initial havoc with a charge through the heart of the Bath defensive line, Damian Welch took up the charge before the ball was worked at pace to the left flank where Bodilly was waiting to dot down in the left corner.

Minutes later and the hosts were threatening again, fly-half Joe Simmonds linking cleverly with Low on halfway before the Scotsman released Matawalu in space. Still with plenty to do, the pacy winger chipped over the top towards the try-line, but opposite number Levi Davies was quick to read the situation, racing across to cover the threat.

Bath’s reprieve proved short-lived, however, as the Braves continued to thunder forward in numbers. Tom Johnson, Bodilly and Tomas Francis all made significant dents in the visiting line, before Joe Simmonds again fired a pass to his left, this time finding Campagnaro in space to finish with aplomb.

Two tries soon became three as the dominant Braves added to their tally midway through the half. Having won a penalty midway inside the Bath half, they kicked for the corner, won the resultant lineout and, when push came to shove, it was replacement hooker Malton, who emerged from the mass of bodies to the acclaim of his team-mates.

Simmonds, having missed his two earlier kicks, this time made no mistake, dissecting the posts with a sublime conversion to put his side 17-0 up.

Exeter’s relentless onslaught showed no signs of abating and by the half-hour mark they had the bonus point safely secured, Malton again the scorer as he burrowed over from another catch-and-drive just metres from the Bath line.

Simmonds again obliged with the extras to that score and the home side’s fifth which arrived on the stroke of half time when Atkins was able to bulldoze his way over the whitewash after strong build-up play involving Campagnaro, Bodilly and the industrious Sam Simmonds.

HALF TIME EXETER BRAVES 31 BATH UNITED 0

Up against it following a dismal first half, Bath threw caution to the wind on the resumption, starting on the offensive and getting reward within just a few minutes of play.

The visiting pack trundled the ball up initially with a succession of drives, before it was crafted wide to the left, creating a two-man overlap, where the waiting Davies was on hand to cross with little opposition. Jennings completed the job by adding the resultant conversion.

Bath’s opening score clearly seemed to lift the visitors, who added a second try on 54 minutes, Davies again the scorer as he managed to latch onto a clever grubber kick in behind from Adam Hastings in the corner.

However, any hopes of a revival from the visitors were quickly quashed by the Braves, who responded almost immediately with their sixth try of the night. Good work from Sam Simmonds got the home side deep inside the Bath 22, the visitors leaked a penalty, and when that was kicked to the corner, they again used the tried and trusted driving line-out to send Malton over for his hat-trick score.

To their credit, Bath refused to lie down and they again fought back, adding a third score of their own when full-back Partington showed good speed down the right flank before diving his way over in the corner for the unconverted score.

But no sooner had the visitors got themselves to within sight of a bonus point themselves, they allowed Exeter to plunder another try, Aussie lock Atkins steaming over for his second of the game followed a concerted spell of home pressure. Simmonds pocketed the conversion to put his side firmly in command at 41-17.

Pellow’s side looked to add to their advantage late on as Joe Simmonds and Matawalu combined nicely, but as the Fijian flyer looked set to pounce, he spilled the ball join contact. Lapping up possession, Bath countered quickly downfield and their efforts paid dividends as Davies cruised over for his third try of the game.

Although the Braves tried to nab another score late on, their determined efforts proved fruitless.
Braves: T Landray; J Nowell (AJ Cant 59), M Campagnaro (J Elderkin 75), M Bodilly, N Matawalu; J Simmonds, D Lewis (H Skinner 63); M Low (B Keast 63), E Taione (S Malton 11), T Francis (J Owlett 63); O Atkins (E Holmes 75), D Welch; B White, S Simmonds, T Johnson (capt). Replacement (not used): S Lonsdale.

Tries - Bodilly, Campagnaro, Malton (3), Atkins (2); Conversions - J Simmonds (4)

Bath United: W Partington (T Galbraith 70); D Atkins, J Williams, R Jennings, L Davies; A Hastings, W Homer; N Auterac (S Nixon 58), M Van Vuuren (G Oghre 71), J Hall; D McGeekie (J Walker 52), L Douglas (C Allen 79); J Bayliss, G Mercer (capt), P Grant. Replacement (not used): B Rath.

Tries - Davies (3), Partington; Conversion - Jennings

Referee: S Lewis

Attendance: 1,388