Manny stars for Baxter’s battling Chiefs

By MARK STEVENS

Exeter ………………………….21pts

Tries: Vintcent 23, Fisilau 56, Roots 66

Conversions: Slade 23, 56, 66

Bath ……………………………..15pts

Tries: du Toit 21, Hill 28

Conversions: Spencer 28

Penalties: Spencer 49

IT'S not just Storm Kathleen that was causing quite the stir at Sandy Park, so too were Rob Baxter's young Exeter Chiefs side who prog ressed into the quarter-finals of this season's Champions Cup with a hard-fought victory over rivals Bath.

Less than a week after turning in one of their worst displays of the season at Sale Sharks, the Devonians were back to their rousing best in this absorbing all West Country affair.

With a howling wind making conditions incredibly tough for both sides throughout, it was the Chiefs who prospered against the elements in the second period, claiming victory thanks to crucial scores from Greg Fisilau and Ethan Roots.

Those scores helped seal a decent fightback from the hosts, who had earlier trailed 12-7 at the turn as Bath grabbed scores from Thomas du Toit and Ted Hill.

In reply, No.8 Ross Vintcent helped himself to a score of his own for the Chiefs who, you felt, had failed to make the most of their possession and territory during a first period in which both sides traded significant blows like two prized fighters.

Naturally, Baxter was delighted with his side's showing come the close. He said: “The one thing we had today was an absolutely full-blooded commitment to be in the game physically from the first minute – that was pretty much the only parameter we gave the lads.

“Then, we built the game from there. The biggest credit I've got to say to the guys is that it would have been easy to have thought at half-time they hadn't done enough, but I think the reality was we got an awful lot of hard work done in that first half and that probably was the winning of the game for us.

“I know that sounds a bit strange because Bath created those two scores, one out of nothing really, but it felt to me a little bit like we'd managed to have so much possession and worked them so hard that there would be opportunities in the second half.”

And so it proved for the Chiefs, who will now face the winners of Toulouse and Racing 92. They meet today in their all-French affair.

“I think for me that was the biggest lesson and, hopefully, it will move on quickly with the young guys now because they can actually stop and go, ‘Oh right, it's actually the first 10 minutes that really matter, the second 20 minutes really matter. You don't win the game then, but you can certainly lose it.

Star man: Immanuel Feyi-Waboso breaks past Joe Cokanasiga

PICTURE: Getty Images

“The bits you do right from the start actually do add up and win you the game. I think we managed to drive that just a little bit better than Bath because if I watch another Champions Cup game this weekend, I'll be amazed if there is a team that has worked hard-er than both Exeter and Bath have today.”

In a gripping encounter throughout, Bath made the best of losing hooker Tom Dunn to an early yellow card, and the loss of Scotland fly-half Finn Russell to injury on 14 minutes, to break the deadlock when du Toit was driven over from a close-range lineout midway through the first half.

Visiting joy, though, lasted less than a minute as Alfie Barbeary made a hash of the restart, gifting possession to Vintcent, who needed no second invitation to gallop through the heart of the Bath defensive line to claim the score, converted by Henry Slade.

Although the Chiefs continued to control much of the play, it was the visitors who regained the lead just moments later, Hill rising high to claim the high ball, before turning on the gas to race clear of Josh Hodge and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.

Spencer slotted the conversion, plus a penalty early in the second half, to give his side an eightpoint buffer heading towards the final quarter.

Turbo charge: Ted Hill runs in to score Bath's second try

PICTURE: Alamy

Baxter introduced fresh stock from the sidelines and that, coupled with a change of tactics slightly, saw the Chiefs haul themselves back into contention. Feyi-Waboso was a constant spark throughout the game and he broke several tackles in the lead-up to Fisilau's try before the hour mark for a converted score.

Feyi-Waboso again made metres as he helped Exeter get up to the tryline before back row ace Roots sent Sandy Park into delirium with a third try, easing over from close range.

It was sensational stuff from Exeter, who, roared on by a capacity crowd, were able to dig deepep in the dying embers, even snatching a crucial late Bath lineout with a brilliant leap from the impressive Christ Tshiunza.

For Bath, it's back to the European drawing board, whilst for the Chiefs a French test looms next weekend!