Turner praises 'fighting spirit'

By Mark Stevens
29/10/17

Lachie Turner says Exeter Chiefs underlined their ‘fighting spirit’ to the full with victory over Sale Sharks on Friday night.

Just five days after downing Montpellier on their own turf in the European Champions Cup, the Chiefs produced an equally strong display in the North West, defeating the Sharks 10-6 to maintain their top two status in the league.

Turner’s converted second half try, plus a further five points from the boot of fly-half Gareth Steenson, proved sufficient enough for Rob Baxter’s side to notch up their fifth league win of the season.

In reply, Sale scrum-half Faf De Klerk landed a penalty in each half for the hosts, who pressed hard in the closing stages - when the Chiefs were down to 14 men following the sin-binning of Stuart Townsend - to try and claim the prized scalp of the defending champions.

Aussie international Turner, who was named man of the match by the BT Sport pundits, was quick to praise the efforts of the Chiefs at the final whistle.

“That was a big win for us tonight and we showed real guts there at the end,” said the 30-year-old back. “Our forward pack were amazing - and to hold them out at the end, when they were coming and coming, I thought the boys really stood up.

“It was a hell of an effort, especially off such a short turnaround, but this is what this team is all about. The coaching staff always challenge the boys to keep standing up and that’s what we did tonight.”

With just one day of training to prepare for the Round 7 encounter, it was never going to be a classic encounter against the Sharks at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Level at 3-3 at the break, Turner stole over for the game’s only try early in the second period, after which the Sharks came battling back. In the end, however, they could not find a way through the Chiefs defensive line, this despite some intense pressure late on.

“It’s been an emotional couple of weeks,” added Turner. “That performance tonight - and the guts we showed right at the end - that is what this team is all about. I’ve got the award tonight, but it could easily have gone to any of the team. As I said, it’s a really pleasing result for us and we’ll enjoy the trip home now.”