Braves win delights Morton
By Mark Stevens
24/4/18
Exeter Braves coach Sam Morton insists the hunger for success on and off the field is helping to drive standards up and up at Sandy Park.
Just weeks after the Chiefs lifted the Anglo-Welsh Cup for the second time, it was the turn of the Braves to book another final appearance for the Devon club as they saw off Newcastle Falcons 50-14 on Monday night to advance into next Monday's Aviva A League final.
Waiting for them will be Northampton Wanderers, who themselves will have home advantage for the night after they advanced courtesy of a 46-27 win over Harlequins in the other semi-final.
Winger Tom O'Flaherty helped himself to a brace of tries for the Braves, while team-mates Michele Campagnaro, Max Bodilly, Tom Hendrickson, Tom Lawday Matt Kvesic and Toby Salmon also got in on the scoring act. Fly-half Sam Morley added five conversions to complete the home side's victory.
Jamie Blamire and Connor Cowell claimed converted tries for the Falcons, but they were well beaten on the night and Morton is keen for the Braves to continue their fine form in the upcoming final.
"From 1 to 23, it was a massive performance from the boys," he said. "They dug in deep for the whole 80 minutes and in the end they got the result.
"We built up a good lead at the break [24-0] and we talked at half time about how we couldn't afford to let up. Fair play to Newcastle, they came at us strong in that first five minutes of the second half, but we managed to get the messages back on and, fair play to the boys, they banged in those three tries in quick succession to settle things effectively."
With competition for places rife throughout the Chiefs squad right now, any opportunity to impress the watching coaching staff has to be taken by those on duty.
"There is a real hunger for success and for trophies," added Morton. "That comes from academy level right up to the first team. It's the culture which has been created here by the players and the coaches, but it's helping to push everyone forward.
"Northampton next week will be tough, especially playing at the Gardens, but it's a challenge we will thrive on. For us, we're in another final and it's more silverware that we can potentially win."
As well as the victory, the other key positive of Monday's win was the sight of both Campagnaro and Bodilly returning to action for the first time after long-term injuries.
Both men impressed in the Exeter back division and it didn't take either long to make an impact, as both players helped themselves to a try apiece in the first half.
"I thought Michele and Bods were outstanding," said Morton. "Both made impacts early on and they just built from there. It was not just a boost for them to get back out there again after so long, but it's a boost for the whole squad to see them back playing again."
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