Exeter Restart With Newcastle Success
Exeter Chiefs returned to action in the Gallagher Premiership with a hard-fought home win against Newcastle that allowed the Vertu Motors-backed side to briefly move into the top three in the standings.
The game marked the first competitive game for the Chiefs since losing to Gloucester in the semi-final of the Premiership Rugby Cup in mid-February, and was a first outing in the league since the end of January following the Six Nations break.
With the final two league games prior to that break having ended in defeat, the Chiefs were keen to bounce back to form and maintain a bid for a top four place, with eight points covering Northampton at the top down to Exeter in fourth.
With Northampton sliding to defeat against Bristol on Friday evening, Exeter went into the Newcastle game knowing that victory would close the gap at the top of the table but it was the visitors who grabbed a surprise early lead.
Less than a minute was on the clock when Ben Stevenson broke through to give the Falcons the lead, with Brett Connon kicking the extras.
Greg Fisilau responded for the Eagles, although Harvey Skinner was unable to add the extras – allowing Newcastle to then go 10-5 up when Connon kicked a penalty shortly afterwards.
When Guy Pepper was sent to the bin, Exeter took advantage to level the scores when a defensive mix-up left Zack Wimbush with the simple task of downing the ball, with Scott Sio then putting the home side into the lead for the first time when he scored in the corner.
Although Connon again reduced the gap between the two sides from the boot, Rusi Tuima secured the bonus points with the fourth Chiefs try just before the break, with Josh Hodge taking over kicking duties from Skinner to secure the first successful conversion.
Newcastle pulled the gap down to six points when Connon kicked his third penalty ten minutes into the second half, with the Chiefs missing another opportunity of their own from the tee when a kick from Hodge could only hit the post.
However, when the visitors went down a man when Bryan Byrne was sent to the bin, Hodge kicked another penalty to wrap up a 25-16 win that saw the Chiefs move up to third in the table – although Bath would move back ahead with a Sunday success against Sale.
There are now just four points however covering the top four in the table.
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