Exeter Chiefs
An end to Stage 1 - Chiefs v Bees
Moorsman
By Moorsman
March 9 2010
Instead of the final 'league' match with the play-offs looming this feels like a pre-season match.
Match Preview
Exeter Chiefs v Birmingham & Solihull 
What can we expect?
Exeter Chiefs v Birmingham & Solihull What can we expect?
This is the final round of 'league' games and there are a few things to be decided but these only concern teams who can move between the relegation and promotion play-offs. Here's how the table looks going into the final weekend.
| Position | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | BP | |
| 1 | Bristol | 21 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 605 | 307 | 14 | 90 |
| 2 | Exeter Chiefs | 21 | 18 | 0 | 3 | 637 | 348 | 11 | 83 |
| 3 | London Welsh | 21 | 13 | 1 | 7 | 455 | 352 | 9 | 58 |
| 4 | Bedford Blues | 21 | 11 | 1 | 9 | 548 | 410 | 9 | 55 |
| 5 | Cornish Pirates | 21 | 11 | 1 | 9 | 531 | 435 | 9 | 55 |
| 6 | Nottingham | 21 | 11 | 0 | 10 | 502 | 500 | 10 | 54 |
| 7 | Doncaster knights* | 21 | 10 | 0 | 11 | 381 | 366 | 7 | 47 |
| 8 | Plymouth Albion* | 21 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 369 | 449 | 6 | 44 |
| 9 | Moseley* | 21 | 9 | 0 | 12 | 414 | 518 | 6 | 42 |
| 10 | Rotherham Titans* | 21 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 425 | 487 | 13 | 41 |
| 11 | Coventry | 21 | 5 | 1 | 15 | 326 | 528 | 5 | 12 |
| 12 | Birmingham & Solihull | 21 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 281 | 774 | 4 | -9 |
Doncaster will be 7th if they draw with or defeat Plymouth or 8th if the result goes against them.
Plymouth will be 7th if they defeat Doncaster or drop into the relegation play-offs if they lose and either Moseley or Rotherham win.
Moseley need to defeat Bristol and have Doncaster defeat Plymouth if they are to move out of the relegation play-offs.
Rotherham need to beat Bedford and hope Plymouth lose to move into the promotion play-offs.
Now to the Chiefs v Bees match, which is a really strange affair because any points obtained will not affect the final 'league' positions.
So how are the respective teams going to use the match? My guess is they'll both use it to build some momentum to take into the play-offs. The Chiefs have already started this and commenced the process with last weeks B&I cup game at Plymouth. I expect that Bees will also want to use this to settle their likely 1st team to fight relegation.
Having said this I think it could be a very long afternoon for the Bees as I expect the Chiefs to put in 80 minutes of attacking rugby. Each of the Chiefs squad will be playing to keep their place for the play-off games and know an under par performance will open the door for another squad member.
Plymouth will be 7th if they defeat Doncaster or drop into the relegation play-offs if they lose and either Moseley or Rotherham win.
Moseley need to defeat Bristol and have Doncaster defeat Plymouth if they are to move out of the relegation play-offs.
Rotherham need to beat Bedford and hope Plymouth lose to move into the promotion play-offs.
Now to the Chiefs v Bees match, which is a really strange affair because any points obtained will not affect the final 'league' positions.
So how are the respective teams going to use the match? My guess is they'll both use it to build some momentum to take into the play-offs. The Chiefs have already started this and commenced the process with last weeks B&I cup game at Plymouth. I expect that Bees will also want to use this to settle their likely 1st team to fight relegation.
Having said this I think it could be a very long afternoon for the Bees as I expect the Chiefs to put in 80 minutes of attacking rugby. Each of the Chiefs squad will be playing to keep their place for the play-off games and know an under par performance will open the door for another squad member.
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Discussion started by thechiefstribe.com (IP Logged), 09/03/2010 17:51
09/03/2010 17:51
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Interestingly I have not seen the Chiefs attack for a full 80mins all season at home.
I'm not worried about them attacking for 80 minutes, that would imply that the opposition will not touch the ball for the whole game, and the laws allow them to touch it at least once; either at kick off or at the restart of the game at the start of the second half.
Personally I hope the Bees get their hands on the ball a lot more than that, every time they restart the game after we have scored!
I know, I'm arrogant
Personally I hope the Bees get their hands on the ball a lot more than that, every time they restart the game after we have scored!
I know, I'm arrogant
PRESS RELEASE
Dollman to gain more game-time against Bees
Phil Dollman will get the chance to add to his game minutes after returning from an ankle injury last weekend.
The Welshman accrued rather more minutes than was planned against Plymouth Albion after Matt Jess had to withdraw with food poisoning just ahead of the game. Nic Sestaret moved onto the wing to replace Jess, and Dollman moved up from the bench to start. He ended up playing 80 minutes and will get the chance to add to that tally in the last league game of the season against Birmingham-Solihull.
Dollman said: It was a bit of surprise last weekend, but it was good to gain some minutes and to get some match practice in. I felt a bit sore towards the end but the fitness work I had done with Paddy Anson and Mark Twiggs made it easy for me to slot back in there.
Chiefs will face Birmingham-Solihull at Sandy Park on Saturday (KO 3pm) in the last league game of the season before the play-offs start.
Dollman added: We have been looking at this game as a positive finish for us. It will be nice to finish the league off and then fully concentrate on the play-offs. A good win against Bees would be great for our confidence. It would help us push on a bit and everyone will be buzzing and looking forward to carrying that confidence through to the play-offs and putting in some good performances against some tough opposition to hopefully take us through to the finals.
Baxter will announce his first XV and bench on Friday.
This game was scheduled to be played on January 9 but the snowy weather prevented the game from going ahead. Anyone with tickets bearing the original date will obviously gain entry. There are still tickets available for this game. Please call 01392 890890 between 10am and 4pm or log on to www.exeterchiefs.co.uk.
Exeter Chiefs v Birmingham-Solihull
Saturday, March 13, 2010 KO 3pm
Sandy Park
Forwards:
Simon Alcott, Richie Baxter, Sam Blythe, Chris Budgen, Neil Clark, David Gannon, James Hanks, Tom Hayes, Andy Miller, Ben Moon, James Scaysbrook, Chad Slade, Brett Sturgess & Hoani Tui
Backs:
Richard Bolt, Matt Cornwell, Phil Dollman, Mark Foster, Matt Jess, Steve Jones, Drew Locke, Nic Sestaret, Gareth Steenson, Clive Stuart-Smith & Haydn Thomas
Dollman to gain more game-time against Bees
Phil Dollman will get the chance to add to his game minutes after returning from an ankle injury last weekend.
The Welshman accrued rather more minutes than was planned against Plymouth Albion after Matt Jess had to withdraw with food poisoning just ahead of the game. Nic Sestaret moved onto the wing to replace Jess, and Dollman moved up from the bench to start. He ended up playing 80 minutes and will get the chance to add to that tally in the last league game of the season against Birmingham-Solihull.
Dollman said: It was a bit of surprise last weekend, but it was good to gain some minutes and to get some match practice in. I felt a bit sore towards the end but the fitness work I had done with Paddy Anson and Mark Twiggs made it easy for me to slot back in there.
Chiefs will face Birmingham-Solihull at Sandy Park on Saturday (KO 3pm) in the last league game of the season before the play-offs start.
Dollman added: We have been looking at this game as a positive finish for us. It will be nice to finish the league off and then fully concentrate on the play-offs. A good win against Bees would be great for our confidence. It would help us push on a bit and everyone will be buzzing and looking forward to carrying that confidence through to the play-offs and putting in some good performances against some tough opposition to hopefully take us through to the finals.
Baxter will announce his first XV and bench on Friday.
This game was scheduled to be played on January 9 but the snowy weather prevented the game from going ahead. Anyone with tickets bearing the original date will obviously gain entry. There are still tickets available for this game. Please call 01392 890890 between 10am and 4pm or log on to www.exeterchiefs.co.uk.
Exeter Chiefs v Birmingham-Solihull
Saturday, March 13, 2010 KO 3pm
Sandy Park
Forwards:
Simon Alcott, Richie Baxter, Sam Blythe, Chris Budgen, Neil Clark, David Gannon, James Hanks, Tom Hayes, Andy Miller, Ben Moon, James Scaysbrook, Chad Slade, Brett Sturgess & Hoani Tui
Backs:
Richard Bolt, Matt Cornwell, Phil Dollman, Mark Foster, Matt Jess, Steve Jones, Drew Locke, Nic Sestaret, Gareth Steenson, Clive Stuart-Smith & Haydn Thomas
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