Braves 45 Harlequins 0
Exeter Braves 38
Harlequins 0
Mark Stevens at Sandy Park
Exeter Braves got their new Premiership Rugby Shield campaign off to the perfect start, defeating visiting Harlequins with a six-try display at Sandy Park.
Ricky Pellow’s side dominated from start to finish, establishing a 24-0 lead at the break thanks to tries from Stu Townsend (2), Harvey Skinner and Richard Capstick.
The second half proved just as one-sided, although the scoring was not quite as prolific, the hosts adding further touchdowns through James Short and Stan South.
Ahead of kick-off Pellow had called on his side – who last season reached the semi-finals of the competition, only to bow out at Newcastle Falcons – to get their season off to a flying start.
With many players keen to impress in front of the watching Exeter coaches, it didn’t take the home side long to get into their attacking stride. Strong carries from Jordon Poole and Tom Wyatt got the Braves on the front foot, but somehow Harlequins scrambled sufficiently to keep their rivals at bay.
It was, however, only a brief respite as the Braves were again quickly on the offensive, eventually taking the lead on 12 minutes. Playing advantage off a line-out deep inside the visiting 22, the Devonians crafted the opening for Townsend to sneak over under the posts for a try, converted by Skinner.
Harlequins looked for an immediate response, but having positioned themselves nicely in the Braves half, they failed to turn their pressure and territory into points, coughing up possession as the home defence flew up one as one.
Turning defence into attack, the Braves stretched their lead with two tries in four minutes. Skinner was the first over, diving over following great approach work from Tom Hendrickson and Tom Price, the latter pulling on an Exeter jersey for the first time since his summer move from the Scarlets.
Two tries soon became three when, following a penalty kicked to the corner, the home pack combined as one to drive young flanker Capstick over for the score.
It was no more than the Braves deserved, but the home side weren’t finished there and on the stroke of half-time they bagged themselves the try bonus, Townsend squirming his way through the middle of a ruck to claim his second, again converted by Skinner.
HALF TIME EXETER BRAVES 24 HARLEQUINS 0
On the resumption, it took just four minutes for the Braves to get back into the scoring mood. The forwards again did the leg work with some heavyweight carries deep behind enemy lines, after which the home backs took charge, creating the opening for Short to glide over in the right-hand corner. Skinner again obliged with a sublime touchline conversion.
Harlequins already looked a beleaguered bunch and their cause was hardly helped as they gifted away both possession and a series of needless penalties to give Braves further opportunities to probe their defensive line.
Their night was probably best summed up when a lengthy clearance from Bodilly was inadvertently spilled by Daryl Munro with literally no one within a 15 metre radius of him.
Not surprisingly, the Braves emptied their bench for the final quarter. Townsend was given a huge roar of appreciation for his night’s work, as were those who followed him to the sidelines for the dying embers of the contest.
There was, however, to be no let-up from the Braves, who continued to attack the exposed Quins’ jugular. Running lines were appearing all over the park, but it was from the tried-and-trusted, close-range, pick-and-go that they were able to add a sixth try.
Former Harlequins lock South was the beneficiary on this occasion, driving over from a few yards out for the score, converted with ease by Skinner.
To their credit, the Londoners kept battling away until the final whistle, but the Braves were in miserly mood, offering not an even a crumb of comfort for them to chew on.
Braves: P Dollman (S Morley h/t); M Bodilly, T Wyatt, T Hendrickson (S Cornish 51), J Short; H Skinner, S Townsend (capt, S Maunder 58); B Keast (D Southworth 58), J Poole (T Channon 56), P Schickerling (W Norton 58); S South, T Price; J Caulfield, R Capstick (L Pearson 68), S Lonsdale (J McRae 56).
Tries – Townsend (2), H Skinner, Capstick, Short, South (2); Conversions – H Skinner (5)
Harlequins: L Lynagh; T Ismaiel (H Barlow 58), L Northmore, L Anyanwu, V Goneva (O Beard 66); B Herron, L Wheeldon (D Munro 47); M Lambert (H Challenor 25), S Riley, P Swainston (G Smith 66); H Tizard (W Trenholm 54), T Freeman (capt); G Hammond (M Dwyer 70), J Kenningham, D Lamb. Replacement (not used): J Bourton
Referee: C Gayther
Attendance: 1,408