Exeter 38-22 Bees
By Graham Winbury - IC Birmingham October 10 2005
They battled hard but in the end, Pertemps Bees just could not resist a home side bent on bouncing back from a disappointing start to the season.
By Graham Winbury - IC Birmingham October 10 2005
They battled hard but in the end, Pertemps Bees just could not resist a home side bent on bouncing back from a disappointing start to the season.
Exeter Chiefs' tactics may not have been too sophisticated but it was effective, capitalising on a string of errors by the visitors to claim five tries.
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A heavy storm just before kick-off made conditions difficult for both sides and, as a result, the rugby was hardly scintillating.
Handling errors were legion, with both sides struggling to control the wet ball and it was no surprise that all three firsthalf tries came from mistakes.
The Bees were the first to profit as Exeter hooker Simon Jenkins threw over the top of a defensive lineout. Tim Walsh reacted first and, after the forwards had secured the ball, the fly-half put Aaron Takarangi over in the right corner.
But Exeter hit back with a spell of sustained pressure, centring on three scrums which resulted in the home side being awarded a penalty try. Fly-half Tony Yapp kicked the conversion.
The Bees were punished further when, after Walsh's knock-on, Mark Fatialofa gathered and sprinted 40 metres before putting brother Junior over the line.
Scrum-half Ben Harvey kicked three penalties for the Bees either side of half-time, when the teams were level at 14-14.
However, the accuracy of Yapp's long, searching kicks produced two try opportunities in quick succession.
First the Exeter forwards stole the Bees' lineout throw and created space for winger Stephen Ward to score under the posts. Then Dave Knight was forced to concede a line-out and the home pack drove over the line for prop Danny Porte to score.
Harvey managed three points with a penalty after the Exeter backs had been caught offside.
But he missed another chance shortly after as Bees enjoyed a spell of possession midway through the half and the Exeter forwards capitalised with a good move that put skipper Tony Walker over out wide.
With time running out and the chance of a losing bonus point slipping away, Jim Jenner scored a consolation try after the ball had popped out of the back of a scrum. However, Yapp's late dropped goal ensured a much-needed home win for Exeter.
Losing by this scoreline might not be a good starting point for celebrations but Pertemps Bees director of rugby Phil Maynard was not too disheartened.
Maynard is a realist and knows that part-time Bees are always more likely to be an irritation rather than a contender in a National One which is becoming increasingly full-time.
Story continues Continue story
He said: "We played well but we were about five per cent, perhaps 10 per cent, below our best and I have always said it is all a question of margins. We know that if we drop five per cent below our best we are in trouble."
At 100 per cent Maynard believes Bees will give anyone in their division a game. He said: "We played quite well and we stuck at it.
"They are a big powerful side and full-time. We gifted them about 20-22 points and considering we lost by 16 that is probably where we went wrong."
A downpour just before kick-off ensured that fast, slick passing rugby was going to be at a premium and so it proved with all three first-half tries stemming from mistakes.
Exeter hooker Simon Jenkins was too high and long for his side's defensive line-out and Bees fly-half Tim Walsh was first to pounce to set up Aaron Takarangi.
Exeter were back with a somewhat harsh penalty try after a series of scrums on Bees' line, then Walsh knocked on and Mark Fatialofa picked up and ran 40 yards to put brother Junior over.
Scrum-half Ben Harvey landed three penalties to level the scores to 14-14.
After the break Exeter first stole a Bees line-out for winger Stephen Ward to score under the posts, then full-back Dave Knight had to concede a line-out near his line and the home pack drove over prop Danny Porte. Harvey then kicked one and missed a second penalty before Exeter's forwards passed their way through to put skipper Tony Walker over.
There was still time for Jim Jenner to grab a consolation try but Exeter fly-half Tony Yapp, with all five conversions, had the final word with a drop.
Story continues Continue story
A heavy storm just before kick-off made conditions difficult for both sides and, as a result, the rugby was hardly scintillating.
Handling errors were legion, with both sides struggling to control the wet ball and it was no surprise that all three firsthalf tries came from mistakes.
The Bees were the first to profit as Exeter hooker Simon Jenkins threw over the top of a defensive lineout. Tim Walsh reacted first and, after the forwards had secured the ball, the fly-half put Aaron Takarangi over in the right corner.
But Exeter hit back with a spell of sustained pressure, centring on three scrums which resulted in the home side being awarded a penalty try. Fly-half Tony Yapp kicked the conversion.
The Bees were punished further when, after Walsh's knock-on, Mark Fatialofa gathered and sprinted 40 metres before putting brother Junior over the line.
Scrum-half Ben Harvey kicked three penalties for the Bees either side of half-time, when the teams were level at 14-14.
However, the accuracy of Yapp's long, searching kicks produced two try opportunities in quick succession.
First the Exeter forwards stole the Bees' lineout throw and created space for winger Stephen Ward to score under the posts. Then Dave Knight was forced to concede a line-out and the home pack drove over the line for prop Danny Porte to score.
Harvey managed three points with a penalty after the Exeter backs had been caught offside.
But he missed another chance shortly after as Bees enjoyed a spell of possession midway through the half and the Exeter forwards capitalised with a good move that put skipper Tony Walker over out wide.
With time running out and the chance of a losing bonus point slipping away, Jim Jenner scored a consolation try after the ball had popped out of the back of a scrum. However, Yapp's late dropped goal ensured a much-needed home win for Exeter.
Losing by this scoreline might not be a good starting point for celebrations but Pertemps Bees director of rugby Phil Maynard was not too disheartened.
Maynard is a realist and knows that part-time Bees are always more likely to be an irritation rather than a contender in a National One which is becoming increasingly full-time.
Story continues Continue story
He said: "We played well but we were about five per cent, perhaps 10 per cent, below our best and I have always said it is all a question of margins. We know that if we drop five per cent below our best we are in trouble."
At 100 per cent Maynard believes Bees will give anyone in their division a game. He said: "We played quite well and we stuck at it.
"They are a big powerful side and full-time. We gifted them about 20-22 points and considering we lost by 16 that is probably where we went wrong."
A downpour just before kick-off ensured that fast, slick passing rugby was going to be at a premium and so it proved with all three first-half tries stemming from mistakes.
Exeter hooker Simon Jenkins was too high and long for his side's defensive line-out and Bees fly-half Tim Walsh was first to pounce to set up Aaron Takarangi.
Exeter were back with a somewhat harsh penalty try after a series of scrums on Bees' line, then Walsh knocked on and Mark Fatialofa picked up and ran 40 yards to put brother Junior over.
Scrum-half Ben Harvey landed three penalties to level the scores to 14-14.
After the break Exeter first stole a Bees line-out for winger Stephen Ward to score under the posts, then full-back Dave Knight had to concede a line-out near his line and the home pack drove over prop Danny Porte. Harvey then kicked one and missed a second penalty before Exeter's forwards passed their way through to put skipper Tony Walker over.
There was still time for Jim Jenner to grab a consolation try but Exeter fly-half Tony Yapp, with all five conversions, had the final word with a drop.
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