Exeter Chiefs
Chiefs 30 Saints 9
Big Chief
By LittleTommyHawkk
March 9 2011
Just when Saints supporters thought it was all done and dusted along comes a report from LittleTommyHawkk
Exeter Chiefs 30 Northampton Saints 9
This was a match that we had been looking forward to ever since that final whistle blew at Franklin Gardens. After a result of 27 – 21 result and the Chiefs picking up a LBP, this match was always going to be a close call, however no one could of expected the dramatic change of play from the Chiefs at half time to secure a superb 30 – 9 win.
So, this weekend started with a trip to the Mennaye to watch the Pirates take on Exeter’s 2nd string. After a rather amusing journey with the Sat Nav instructing to turn left and 1 very puzzled men sat in the front going ‘but left is the sea!’, we eventually arrived. I must say that I definitely preferred the ground at Cambourne, but this may be because you could buy chips there and at the Mennaye it was pasties, sausage rolls or sticky buns. Pirates were obviously a much stronger side then the 2nd string Exeter team, but there was no doubt that this side has potential with a 3 good tries and some good breaks.
Soon enough Sunday arrived and it was getting closer and closer to the time where i would be walking into the ground to secure my spot to match the match. Arriving at the ground at roughly 1:30pm I made my way to the East Terrace South to secure a place at the front and set up camp for the afternoon. Soon enough the ground began to fill and the teams were out to warm up. The minutes were ticking down towards kick off and soon enough Tommy and the guys were making there way back into the changing rooms to changing rooms accompanied by the thunderous roar of a crowd anticipating a big game.
The chiefs got off to a bad start after they were penalised at the scrum. Myler took his chance to put Saints into the lead and his shot was successful. 0 – 3. But 4 minutes later the lethal boot of Steenson struck to make the score 3 – 3. But 15 and 17 minutes from kick off Myler had two more chances to boost the Saints score, with only the first sailing over. 3 – 6. From then on both teams were a little scrappy, but good play from Exeter’s debutant winger Nemani Nadolo and Fijian Sireli Naqelevuki was called back for it being a forward pass. But this was just the beginning of the two Fijians working some magic on the field, as we found out later. In the 31th minute Steenson took a chance to slot a goal from 35 metres out after Saints were deemed offside in midfield, but the ball floated wide, and it was Myler who attempted a run for the line in the 39th minute only to be caught by Welshman Phil Dolman to stop what otherwise would of been an extremely helpful try for the Saints. In the next minute it was Myler again who kept the score board ticking over for the Saints with the last kick of the game. He converted to make it 3 – 9 at half time.
Whatever Rob Baxter said to that team at half time only they will know, but from the moment the 2nd half kicked off there was a huge difference in the team. 4 minutes into the 2nd half and Steenson returned with his boot to make the score 6 – 9, to only return 5 minutes later to level the scores at 9 -9. The Chiefs were mounting the pressure onto the Saints, and with the crowd urging the team on the Chiefs were finally rewarded with a try from Tom Hayes, after he found space in the left corner. Steenson converts, 16 -9. With the crowd still felling ecstatic from moments before, it is not long before they have another reason to celebrate, after ‘big, fat and ugly’ Nemani Nadolo snatches the ball from the air infront of Bruce Reiahana and combined with Sireli Naqelevuki to send Sireli over the line and dot down in the same place just two minutes after Tommy’s try, making it 21 – 9.
Chiefs kept up their incredible defence, and were rewarded in the 68th minute after Saints set the ball loose, allowing the sensational Tom Johnson to scoop up the ball and sprinted to the try line (at which point tommy hawk was seen fist pumping the air on the live ESPN coverage) much to the delight and relief of the home crowd. Again Steenson stepped up and booted the ball to convert TJ’s try and make the score 30 – 9. Still the Chiefs kept up their immense defence, but also kept attacking the Saints line, as replacement Matt Jess whizzed up the touch line only to be taken out 20 metres from the line. As the clock began to count down the last remaining seconds the home crowd let out a sigh of relief and began to cheer there team as time ran out. But in the 80th minute of play, Nic Sesterat was shown yellow for stopping a penalty from being taken, at the time much to the confusion of many spectators. But this was soon forgotten as the ball was kicked out, the Chiefs had done it! However this brought a sixth successive defeat to the struggling Saints.
The Chiefs just keep on getting better, and with only a handful of games left this season we can expect many more mouth watering moments to our first Premiership season.
Next game, London Irish away!
Oggy Oggy Oggy, Chiefs Chiefs Chiefs!
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09/03/2011 23:10
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Quote:NOISYCHIEF
Big Chief what happened to your 4th finger???
Don't ask - but you wouldn't want to see the other guy!
