Gloucester 28 Chiefs 21
Gloucester 28
Exeter Chiefs 21
Mark Stevens at Kingsholm
In the end there was to be no record-breaking accolade for Exeter Chiefs.
Instead, Rob Baxter’s defending Aviva Premiership champions - who were trying to make it a record 18 games unbeaten in English rugby's top flight - were floored by a late knockout blow from Gloucester new-boy Jason Woodward.
The New Zealand-born full-back, who last season tasted top flight relegation with Bristol, sealed an opening day victory for the Cherry & Whites by stealing over for a last-gasp try at a packed Kingsholm
His score, coupled with a brace for compatriot Jeremy Thrush and another from Ben Morgan, ensured maximum reward for Gloucester, whilst Exeter’s scant consolation was a losing bonus point.
The visitors - who scored two converted tries from Sam Simmonds in the first half, plus another from Olly Woodburn after the break - could easily have headed back down the M5 with the points had Henry Slade landed a late penalty. However, it was not to be on a disappointing night.
Some 97 days on from lifting the title at a packed Twickenham, the visitors had a familiar feel to their line-up for this seasonal opener against the Cherry & Whites.Skipper Jack Yeandle was at the helm for the Chiefs, who handed first Premiership starts for summer signings Matt Kvesic and Nic White.
Kvesic, who swapped Kingsholm for Sandy Park during the close season, was a late promotion into the starting XV, this after Aussie international Dave Dennis failed a late fitness test.
His elevation meant the experienced Julian Salvi came onto the bench, where he was joined by England and British Lions star Jack Nowell, whose try in May’s final kick-started the Devon club’s drive to glory against Wasps.
Gloucester, meanwhile, were also largely unchanged from last season, although they did hand debuts to full-back Jason Woodward and prop Fraser Balmain, while fellow newcomers Gareth Denman, Ed Slater and Ruan Ackermann were all named among the replacements.
Back on his old stomping ground, Kvesic was heavily involved in a powerful opening from the champions, who were happy to go through countless attacking phases in a bid to batter down the home defences.
Although the initial raids failed to bring reward when Ian Whitten was bundled into touch, the next venture into enemy territory did proved fruitful. Max Bodilly returned a loose Billy Burns kick with interest, after which the ball was fed from left to right through the hands of Phil Dollman and Yeandle, whose pop pass to Simmonds allowed the young No.8 to power over in the right corner for the opening score of the night.
Steenson - in front of the notorious Shed - duly obliged with the testing touchline conversion to give the Chiefs the perfect start to the contest.
Minutes later and the Chiefs threatened once more, again working their way through the phases. Gloucester did well to cover the danger, producing a solid defensive line, but a hand in the ruck allowed Baxter’s side to kick to the corner with a penalty.
As plenty with testify, it’s a tactic that the Chiefs are well versed in - just ask Saracens - but on this occasion Yeandle’s intended throw to the middle was swallowed up by Gloucester, much to the joy of the natives.
Having made the most of the left-off, it was now the turn of Gloucester to flex their muscles in attack.Woodward threatened with a chip-and-chase down the right flank, before a great tackle from Simmonds denied another home raider on the opposite wing.
Gloucester, though, were beginning to find their feet and on 25 minutes they made their pressure tell, levelling the match with a converted score from Thrush. The imposing New Zealander was able to burrow his way over from close range after the home side had gone ‘Route One’ following clever approach work involving Mark Atkinson and Andy Symons.
Home cheers did not last all that long as almost straight from the restart the Chiefs reclaimed their advantage. Simmonds was again the beneficiary, this time propelling himself through a series of powder-puff tackles to score under the posts. Steenson again added the extras with a simple conversion.
This time it was the Chiefs, however, who couldn’t hold onto their advantage. Having seen Burns fire a routine penalty wide of the target just past the half-hour mark, a second chance saw the hosts opt for the corner.
Exeter thwarted the initial catch-and-drive illegally, but did well to stave off the threat of the second opportunity to the hosts. The key factor, though, was Gloucester kept hold of possession and when they poked and prodded the visiting defensive line, it was Thrush who came up from the pile of bodies to soak up the acclaim of the home faithful.
Just like his first score, the officials were undecided on it’s legality.Referee Matt Carley went to TV match official Sean Davey who, after a lengthy confab and countless replays, agreed the score should be awarded. Burns slotted the conversion to make it level at the turn.
HALF TIME GLOUCESTER 14 EXETER CHIEFS 14
Clearly lifted by the late score, Gloucester were given further incentive early in the second half when the Chiefs lost talisman Steenson to the sin-bin with just two minutes on the clock. The Exeter fly-half was sent to the cooler for a 10-minute spell when he failed to contest a hanging kick from Woodward, who in chasing up, was subsequently sent sprawling over the shoulders of the Ulsterman to the deck.
With the man advantage, the Cherry & Whites looked to target the Exeter jugular. The Chiefs, though, held firm under heavy bombardment, before threatening themselves at the other end through both Kvesic and Don Armand.
Still down a man, the Chiefs then survived a threat down the right when Ollie Thorley gobbled up Atkinson’s cross-field kick, only to be denied by an excellent last-gasp tackle from opposite number Bodilly.
Steenson duly returned from the naughty step, the scoreboard untouched, before Baxter turned to his bench, bringing on international stars Tomas Francis and Jack Nowell. The duo’s first real involvement, however, was to line-up under the posts after Gloucester grabbed the lead for the first time.
Again, the score went to the review panel, this time they were unsure as to whether the ball had been knocked forward. However, the end ruling remained the same for the Chiefs, this time England No.8 Morgan awarded the converted score.
Behind in the contest for the first time, now the Chiefs needed to show their colours. This they did, first going down the left through Slade, then coming back the other way with Armand smuggling the ball cleverly to Nowell, who cut in from the wing to get within yards of the home line. The Chiefs piled forward in numbers but, just as they seemed set to strike, they knocked the ball on at the line. The chance was lost.
Having sat out ten minutes earlier in the half, Steenson was then forced to depart the field again with 15 minutes remaining. This time Exeter’s leading points-scorer exited stage right following a heavy hit to the head from Gloucester’s replacement hooker Motu Matu’u.
It meant a reshuffle to the Exeter back division, Slade moved to role of chief playmaker; Nowell moved into the centre with experienced Aussie back Lachie Turner filling the vacant hole on the right wing.
And all three were involved in the build-up to a huge surge from the Chiefs with ten minutes remaining. Simmonds was eventually released wide on the right, he cut in before the attack was extended further by a strong leg drive from Elvis Taione. His fellow forwards rushed in to aid the Tongan, but again the visitors could not capitalise, spurning a golden opportunity just five metres out.
The Chiefs were far from finished, striking with deadly effect in the very next attack. As Gloucester looked to clear under heavy pressure, Heinz spooned his kick sidewards, Woodburn leapt like a salmon for the visitors, plucking the ball out of the clutches of Thorley, before skipping unopposed down the narrow side to score.
The Travelling Tribe, several of whom had infiltrated the middle of the Shed, roared with delight, before Slade drilled over a sublime conversion from the left flank to level the contest up once more.
Now it was the Chiefs with the momentum entering into the dying embers of an absorbing contest. Gloucester - under heavy pressure - looked to play their way out of defence, but when Benji Vellacott knocked on deep inside his own 22, Exeter were given the perfect attacking platform.
The subsequent scrum ensued, allowing the Exeter eight to pile pressure on replacement prop Josh Hohneck, who buckled under the pressure. It allowed Slade another shot at goal, but this time the England international pulled his kick wide of the far post.
Still with two minutes to play, both sides continued to hammer away at things. Exeter pushed and shoved, only for Gloucester to regain possession and have a go themselves.As the 80 minutes finally elapsed - and urged on by a raucous home crowd - the hosts rolled the dice one final time.
And it was a gamble that was to give them rich rewards as they fashioned the opening for Woodward to sneak over in the corner.
It was a telling blow that not only floored the champions, but gave him instance cult status with so many packed inside Kingsholm. As the hosts celebrated into the night, the Chiefs were left to reflect on what might have been. They have a week now to ready themselves for newly-promoted London Irish at Sandy Park, expect some form of payback to follow for the visiting Exiles.
Gloucester: J Woodward; O Thorley, A Symons, M Atkinson (B Twelvetrees 63), H Purdy; B Burns (M Scott 70), W Heinz (capt, B Vellacott 73); J Afoa (J Hohneck 59), R Hibbard (M Matu’u 59), F Balmain (G Denman 59); T Savage, J Thrush (E Slater 56); L Ludlow, J Rowan, B Morgan (R Ackermann 64).
Tries - Thrush (2), Morgan, Woodward; Conversions - Burns (3), Twelvetrees
Chiefs: P Dollman; O Woodburn, H Slade, I Whitten, M Bodilly (J Nowell 55); G Steenson (L Turner 65), N White (J Maunder 59); B Moon (C Rimmer 56), J Yeandle (capt, E Taione 63), H Williams (T Francis 53); O Atkins (S Skinner 59), J Hill; M Kvesic (J Salvi 63), D Armand, S Simmonds.
Tries - S Simmonds (2), Woodburn; Conversions - Steenson (2), Slade
Referee: M Carley
Attendance: 15,547