Exeter Chiefs
The Final - Part 1 - Exeter Chiefs v Bristol
Championship
By Moorsman
May 17 2010
We're nearly there! Exeter Chiefs and Bristol go head to head in the 1st leg of the Championship final in front of what is likely to be a capacity crowd at Sandy Park on May 19th.
The Final Countdown
Final - 1st leg
Final - 1st leg
Sandy Park - Wednesday 16th May, ko 7:46pm
We're nearly there, after all the discussion (and worse) about this years Championship the Premiership will soon know who's going to join them next season. Will it be they're old friend Bristol Rugby or a new kid on the block in the form of Exeter Chiefs? Both teams have worked towards a place in the final by cruising through the 'league', ending 30 (Bristol) and 26 (Exeter) points ahead of the 3rd team.
The Chiefs stumbled a little in the play-offs with a loss at Nottingham in the opening game and close results away to Doncater and London Welsh. However their home form saw them dish up some of the best performances seen at Sandy Park, with an aggregate score of 136 for and 31 against. The Chiefs took this form into the semi-final where they handed out more of the same, beating Bedford 37-8.
Bristol won all but one of their play-off games, a close fought 15-16 defeat away to Bedford. In their home matches they scored 75 for and conceded 47 points, 32 in the home win against Bedford who scored 5 tries to Bristol's 6. Bristol's biggest win came in a 15-60 defeat of the Cornish Pirates who fielded a below strength team, saving their players for the B&I cup final against Munster A. This clearly worked for the Pirates who beat Munster 23-14 to be the first to engrave their name on the trophy, well done Pirates.
Both teams go into the final with few concerns over injuries and have settled sides who are playing strongly. This makes the outcome very difficult to predict but they will have a great stage to show their ability and desire to packed crowds of their supporters and the Sky TV audience.
Well that's the restrained bit and all I need now is a quiet room and soothing music to get me to Wednesday in one piece..........
Nurse the Screens!!!!!
The Chiefs stumbled a little in the play-offs with a loss at Nottingham in the opening game and close results away to Doncater and London Welsh. However their home form saw them dish up some of the best performances seen at Sandy Park, with an aggregate score of 136 for and 31 against. The Chiefs took this form into the semi-final where they handed out more of the same, beating Bedford 37-8.
Bristol won all but one of their play-off games, a close fought 15-16 defeat away to Bedford. In their home matches they scored 75 for and conceded 47 points, 32 in the home win against Bedford who scored 5 tries to Bristol's 6. Bristol's biggest win came in a 15-60 defeat of the Cornish Pirates who fielded a below strength team, saving their players for the B&I cup final against Munster A. This clearly worked for the Pirates who beat Munster 23-14 to be the first to engrave their name on the trophy, well done Pirates.
Both teams go into the final with few concerns over injuries and have settled sides who are playing strongly. This makes the outcome very difficult to predict but they will have a great stage to show their ability and desire to packed crowds of their supporters and the Sky TV audience.
Well that's the restrained bit and all I need now is a quiet room and soothing music to get me to Wednesday in one piece..........
Nurse the Screens!!!!!
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Discussion started by thechiefstribe.com (IP Logged), 17/05/2010 00:10
17/05/2010 00:10
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Squad news....
Two legs give Chiefs double the chance
Two legs give Chiefs double the chance Exeter Chiefs go into Wednesday’s first leg of the Championship final knowing they have two opportunities to secure their Premiership dream.
The aggregate score of the two legs will determine whether it is Bristol or Exeter who are promoted on May 26, subject to RFU approval.
With Bristol winning five of the their six play-off matches, they won the right to choose whether they played home or away first, and they opted to play at Sandy Park on Wednesday and at their home ground, the Memorial Stadium on May 26.
Ever unflappable, Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter was philosophical about this timetable.
He said: “Who’s under the most pressure? Will Bristol be under more pressure than us if it’s still close after the first leg? How do you tell? We all bought into this at the start of the season and 100 per cent credit to Bristol, they came out of the play-offs with the best record and got to choose.
“Home or away, it will be what it is. We have to play them both and I am comfortable playing at home first.”
Fly-half Gareth Steenson was also unconcerned by the order of the finals or in fact which team he was playing against.
Steenson said: “I’m just glad to be in the final. It would not matter if it was Bristol or Bees. With it being Bristol, it will bring a lot more media attention and a lot of people will be talking about the top two playing each other, which is good for the game and good for the Championship.
“It may be important to win the first game, just to keep the momentum going. We have got to perform well and hopefully take a lead up there, but it’s not a one-off game. If we didn’t take the first game, we would go up to Bristol and try to get a result. We have no fear going up there; we will just go out and play.”
Baxter has named the squad ahead of Wednesday’s game. The team will be announced on Wednesday.
Exeter Chiefs v Bristol Rugby
Championship final first leg
Wednesday, May 19, 2010 – KO 7.45pm
Sandy Park
Forwards:
Simon Alcott, Richie Baxter, Chris Budgen, Neil Clark, David Gannon, James Hanks, Tom Hayes, Tom Johnson, Andy Miller, Ruaidrhí Murphy, James Scaysbrook, Chad Slade & Hoani Tui.
Backs:
Richard Bolt, Matt Cornwell, Phil Dollman, Mark Foster, Danny Gray, Matt Jess, Paul McKenzie, Bryan Rennie, Nic Sestaret, Gareth Steenson, Clive Stuart-Smith & Haydn Thomas.
Two legs give Chiefs double the chance
Two legs give Chiefs double the chance Exeter Chiefs go into Wednesday’s first leg of the Championship final knowing they have two opportunities to secure their Premiership dream.
The aggregate score of the two legs will determine whether it is Bristol or Exeter who are promoted on May 26, subject to RFU approval.
With Bristol winning five of the their six play-off matches, they won the right to choose whether they played home or away first, and they opted to play at Sandy Park on Wednesday and at their home ground, the Memorial Stadium on May 26.
Ever unflappable, Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter was philosophical about this timetable.
He said: “Who’s under the most pressure? Will Bristol be under more pressure than us if it’s still close after the first leg? How do you tell? We all bought into this at the start of the season and 100 per cent credit to Bristol, they came out of the play-offs with the best record and got to choose.
“Home or away, it will be what it is. We have to play them both and I am comfortable playing at home first.”
Fly-half Gareth Steenson was also unconcerned by the order of the finals or in fact which team he was playing against.
Steenson said: “I’m just glad to be in the final. It would not matter if it was Bristol or Bees. With it being Bristol, it will bring a lot more media attention and a lot of people will be talking about the top two playing each other, which is good for the game and good for the Championship.
“It may be important to win the first game, just to keep the momentum going. We have got to perform well and hopefully take a lead up there, but it’s not a one-off game. If we didn’t take the first game, we would go up to Bristol and try to get a result. We have no fear going up there; we will just go out and play.”
Baxter has named the squad ahead of Wednesday’s game. The team will be announced on Wednesday.
Exeter Chiefs v Bristol Rugby
Championship final first leg
Wednesday, May 19, 2010 – KO 7.45pm
Sandy Park
Forwards:
Simon Alcott, Richie Baxter, Chris Budgen, Neil Clark, David Gannon, James Hanks, Tom Hayes, Tom Johnson, Andy Miller, Ruaidrhí Murphy, James Scaysbrook, Chad Slade & Hoani Tui.
Backs:
Richard Bolt, Matt Cornwell, Phil Dollman, Mark Foster, Danny Gray, Matt Jess, Paul McKenzie, Bryan Rennie, Nic Sestaret, Gareth Steenson, Clive Stuart-Smith & Haydn Thomas.
I really hope it is printing error, because he has been arguably one of our top players. Virtually ever present; almost definitely the first name on the team sheet; unlucky not to get recognised in the POY awards - not such a high profile position; in the form of his life.
now listed on Offy site, good job as he's been on fire the past few games.
why havent we seen much of the new lad drew locke? I think hes a fantastic player
Quote:Surf or Fight!
why havent we seen much of the new lad drew locke? I think hes a fantastic player
he's a raw talent, and who would you move out instead? not rennie, not nic, not macca. if any of those three were injured then dollman would move on up.
incidentally, havent even seen tom bedford at matches, let alone the squad sheet for weeks. has he moved on?
He was in the North Terrace for the Nottingham match along with Shane Kingsland a couple of others and he has been playing for Devon in the Bill Beaumont cup.
Quote:Newton Chief
He was in the North Terrace for the Nottingham match along with Shane Kingsland a couple of others and he has been playing for Devon in the Bill Beaumont cup.
thanks - good to hear he's getting some rugby in his legs. must be dispiriting to be training with no action.
Quote:Surf or Fight!
why havent we seen much of the new lad drew locke? I think hes a fantastic player
I am sure he is.....but who would you leave out?
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