Party time for Chiefs as Glasgow crumble

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER

Exeter …………….52pts

Tries: O'Flaherty 15, 56, 66; S Simmonds 24, 52; Cowan-Dickie 56, Nowell 74, Ewers 77

Conversions: J Simmonds 16, 25, 52, 56; Slade 75, 78

Glasgow …………17pts

Tries: Macdonald 31, M Fagerson 47

Conversions: Thompson 31, 48

Penalties: Thompson 7

FOR the first time this season Exeter finally hit the turbos and Glasgow Warriors, who beat them before Christmas, were the unfortunate victims.

The visitors were actually leading 17-14 in the 50th minute but the Chiefs suddenly clicked to score 38 unanswered points in a style that suggests they remain serious contenders for silverware in Europe and domestically this season. Did we ever doubt it?

By the final whistle they had run in eight tries and with two wins in their three European games are currently second in Pool A although such is the congestion they have not yet technically qualified for the round of 16.

Exeter weren't at their attacking best when the two teams met before Christmas but, after an opening Glasgow penalty from Ross Thompson, they looked much more fluent and claimed two first half tries.

The first was a simple but effective set-piece attack from a scrum 30 metres out with Jack Maunder, Joe Simmonds and Henry Slade combining to send Tom O'Flaherty racing down the right wing. The cover was there but they were distracted by two Exeter attackers outside O'Flaherty who took advantage by dummying and racing home himself.

Joe Simmonds converted as Exeter enjoyed a period of dominance which was rewarded with a trademark Sam Simmonds try. Exeter opted for a lineout from a penalty, Luke Cowan-Dickie threw long and Simmonds exploded infield, to his left, to barrel over.

It was looking ominous, but Glasgow started to find their own game and on the half hour claimed their own lineout try, of sorts. They also went long but the initial attack by George Turner was quelled as he was dragged to the ground. From the ruck that formed big lock Kiran Macdonald – once of Hull – simply picked up and jogged through a massive hole for the simplest of scores.

Bizarrely, given what was to follow, Glasgow were quickest to hit their stride after the break with a multi-phase attack which featured Zander Fagerson prominently both in the approach phase and at the finish when he powered over in fine style for a converted try.

How would Exeter respond? They haven't been quite at their best this season but this time they came roaring back as per the double winning team. Exhilarating.

First came at a trademark short penalty move with Cowan-Dickie shifting it to the left rather than charging which allowed the irrepressible Sam Simmonds to force his way over.

Then came an absolute beauty with Joe Simmonds using probably the biggest dead ball area in rugby perfectly with a clever chip which made scoring a mere formality for O'Flaherty.

The game was changing in a blink and Exeter effectively closed it out with a third try in eight minutes when they worked on of their well-rehearsed lineout routines, this time to manufacture a try for Cowan-Dickie.

It was party time for Chiefs and O'Flaherty completed his hat-trick in fine style, Jack Nowell stole in for a nicely worked try and finally big Dave Ewers joined the fun with a score of his own.