This post was originally published on this site.
European Challenge Cup
Exeter Chiefs (35) 42
Tries: Ikitau, Fisilau, Skinner, Sio, Slade, Feyi-Waboso Cons: Slade 6
Cheetahs (7) 12
Tries: Annies, Hartzenberg Cons: van der Walt
Exeter Chiefs got their European Challenge Cup campaign off to the perfect start with a dominant display against the Cheetahs at Sandy Park.
The hosts went second in Pool 3 level on points with Ulster and Stade Francais after an opening fixture featuring six-tries against the South Africans who were blown away in the first half.
Coach Rob Hunter takes his side to Racing 92 next Sunday for a second outing in Europe’s second tier competition with wind in their sails not only from their strong Prem start but a ruthless display here.
Tries from Len Ikitau, Greg Fisilau, Harvey Skinner, Scott Sio and Henry Slade gave Chiefs a 35-7 half time lead and while the second half saw them add just one more through Manny Feyi-Waboso, they showcased some outstanding defensive sets to put the contest to bed.
Cheetahs, who scored tries through Michael Annies in the first half and a close range effort from Munier Hartzenberg in the second surged late but could find no way through Exeter’s lines in the last half hour.
All aspects of Exeter’s play started on point with a line-out steal backed up with some bruising phases in the middle then Skinner breaking through the Cheetahs’ defensive line.
His assist to Ikitau got the ball rolling and with Exeter dominant at the breakdown and assured at the line-out they were soon two tries to the good with Fisilau touching down on 20 minutes.
Cheetahs responded to half the deficit to 14-7 after a fine off load from Prince Nkabinde seeing Annies go over.
But a close range effort from Skinner, a pick and go from a line-out from Sio and a cross-field kick from Skinner to Slade who touched down in the corner saw them go in 35-7 up.
Slade deserves special mention for the unerring accuracy of his boot from some demanding angles. All six of his conversion went over for extras. But a towering display in defence from Tom Hooper also needs noting.
After Manny Feyi-Waboso cancelled out Hartzenberg’s second half effort Exeter allowed some sloppy play to creep in to their performance but they were back on song towards the end.
With a muscular Cheetahs outfit pushing for points, Chiefs held firm with some magnificent defensive sets to keep it pointless for the last 20 minutes of a contest that was never in doubt.
Exeter: Hammersley; Woodburn, Slade, Ikitau, Feyi-Waboso; Skinner, Chapman; Sio, Yeandle, Tchumbadze, Jenkins, Zambonin, Hooper, Roots, Fisilau
Replacements: Dweba, Goodrick-Clarke, Roots, Pearson, James, Cairns, Haydon-Wood, John
Cheetahs: Annies; Hartzenberg, Ackermann, du Plessis, Nkabinde; van der Walt, Jansen van Vuren; Dawson, van der Westhuizen, Coetzee, Wegner, Sekekete, Uys, Venter, van der Merwe
Replacements: Paulo, Nieuwoudt, dos Reis, Vumazonke, Volschenk, Maartens, Nel, Jasper
Referee: Benoit Rousselet (Fra)
