Chiefs 20 Bath 15
Exeter Chiefs 20
Bath Rugby 15
Mark Stevens at Sandy Park
Exeter Chiefs delivered the perfect Christmas gift to their supporters as they took the bragging rights in this festive Westcountry derby against Bath Rugby at Sandy Park.
Rob Baxter’s side scored their points during the first half, then produced a dogged defensive effort after the break to ensure themselves of the spoils.
First half tries from Dave Ewers and Henry Slade, coupled with the boot of fly-half Joe Simmonds, were the attacking highlights for the hosts, but it was their work in thwarting their rivals that was equally impressive.
Defence coach Omar Mouneimne quite rightly took the plaudits from his fellow peers at the final whistle. Exeter not only withstood a heavy Bath bombardment, but they also showed their fair share of guts and guile when it was needed most.
Buoyed by their European victories over Castres and the Bulls in the past fortnight, the Chiefs saw little reason to tinker too much with their winning formula. Injury ruled out hat-trick hero Luke Cowan-Dickie, but he was ably replaced by club captain Jack Yeandle, who was running out for his 200th Premiership appearance. The other change in personnel saw Josh Hodge come in at full-back with Stuart Hogg named amongst the replacements.
Bath, meanwhile, also had milestone men in their ranks with No.8 Josh Bayliss making his 100th outing for the club and prop Lewis Boyce netting his 50th appearance. Also included from the outset was the returning Sam Underhill and Will Spencer.
Together, though, they could do little to stop a spirited start from the Chiefs, who took just two minutes to open their account. A thumping hit from Jack Nowell saw the visitors pinged for holding on and up stepped Joe Simmonds to slot an early penalty.
It was just the start the Chiefs would have craved, but home cheers proved short-lived as Bath countered quickly with a score of their own. Using their forwards as the battering ram to get themselves behind enemy lines, they used the advantage off a penalty to work the opening for winger Joe Cokanasiga to squeeze over in the left corner for the game’s opening try, which was converted by Orlando Bailey.
Exeter’s response was almost immediate as the Chiefs used the resultant restart to get themselves back on the front foot. Winning back possession, it was now the turn of their forwards to bludgeon their way to within sniffing distance of the white line.
Initially, Bath did well to repel the threat, but as the tsunami of Chiefs attacks flowed, so the visiting dam finally burst, Ewers profiting as he bundled his way over for the converted score.
The near capacity crowd were certainly getting value for their money as both sides continued to slug it out, blow for blow. The penalty count for both was excessive and it was from specific award that Bath drew level, Bailey slotting a penalty after Dafydd Jenkins was singled out for not rolling away.
At the other end, the Chiefs then declined a kickable chance of their own, instead opting for greater reward with a kick to the corner. The resultant line-out didn’t go to plan, but as Bath tried to scramble the ball clear, Louis Schreuder’s attempted box kick was charged down by Slade, who lapped up the loose possession to dot down for a second Exeter score.
Simmonds converted that, before adding a penalty with the last kick of the half, to put the Chiefs in command at the break with a ten-point buffer.
HALF TIME: EXETER CHIEFS 20 BATH RUGBY 10
Up against a strengthening down-field wind, the Chiefs re-emerged looking to pick up from where they left off at the end of the first half. Early endeavour from the hosts looked promising, but either a combination of stout Bath defence or unforced errors would curtail their hopes of adding to their advantage.
On at least two occasions, the Chiefs had put themselves in prime position only to concede penalties for holding on. It was a frustrating feeling for many inside Sandy Park, but for Bath they made the most of the let-offs to then flex their own attacking muscles.
Centre Ollie Lawrence was an ever-willing runner for the visitors, continually trying to pick a way through the Chiefs midfield with his hard-hitting carries, whilst up front Bath were slowly starting to gain an edge with their work in the set-piece.
As further penalties flowed against the Chiefs, so Bath were able to pin the Devonians back on their haunches. With the pressure mounting by the minute, it was just past the hour mark that Johann van Graan’s side reduced the deficit, hooker Niall Annett squeezing over from a close-range, catch-and-drive.
Just five points adrift, the visitors had the bit between their teeth. Whereas first half it was Exeter dominating the exchanges, now it was Bath who were looking to press home their authority.
Both sides threw on fresh muscle in a bid to add to their cause, but it was the Chiefs - several of whom were clearly feeling the effects of a sickness bug - who were having to work overtime. Time and time again, bodies were thrown into collisions and quickly summoned to rise to their feet once again.
Bath had the hammer down, but as they pressed hard for that potential knockout blow, so the Chiefs rallied themselves, dragging themselves off the floor at times to just over some sort of resistance. It was brave and heroic stuff which, come the final whistle, was just what the doctored ordered.
The Chiefs will now rest and relax for the next few days, no doubt clearing their heads of this tussle, before then priming themselves for another ding-dong affair, this time against old adversaries Saracens in the final game of the year.
Chiefs: J Hodge (S Hogg 54);J Nowell, H Slade,S Kata, O Woodburn; J Simmonds, S Maunder; S Sio (J Iosefa-Scott 59), J Yeandle (capt, D Frost 63), H Williams (P Schickerling 57); D Jenkins (J Dunne 63), J Gray; D Ewers, C Tshiunza, S Simmonds. Replacements (not used): S Grondona, T Cairns, T Hendrickson.
Tries - Ewers, Slade; Conversions - J Simmonds (2); Penalties - J Simmonds (2)
Bath: M Gallagher; J Cokanasiga, O Lawrence, C Redpath (M Ojomoh 53), R McConnochie; O Bailey, L Schreuder (B Spencer 48); L Boyce (A Morozov 48), T Dunn (capt, N Annett 8), D Rae (A Griffin 69); W Spencer (D Attwood 59), F Lee-Warner; T Hill, S Underhill (M Reid 59), J Bayliss (T Ellis 74).
Tries - Cokanasiga, Annett; Conversion - Bailey; Penalty - Bailey
Referee: T Foley
Attendance: 13,537