Newcastle’s Premiership misery goes on as Exeter end their wait for an away win
Exeter earned their first Gallagher Premiership away win in over a year with a 20-14 victory over Newcastle in a topsy-turvy game at Kingston Park.
A frantic start saw the visitors hit the front through Immanuel Feyi-Waboso but tries from Jamie Blamire and Matias Moroni turned things around, before Henry Slade reduced the arrears to six points with a penalty.
However, Slade and Josh Isoefa-Scott dotted down after the break to complete the turnaround and condemn their opponents to a seventh defeat in as many league games.
Victory meant the away side ended a barren run of 10 consecutive Premiership losses on the road, a run stretching back to October 7 last year, and also moved them back into the top four.
An unchanged Chiefs side travelled to the north-east on the back of a last-minute 25-24 win over Gloucester at Sandy Park.
Meanwhile, the hosts made seven changes to their starting 15, including a first Premiership start for 20-year-old fly-half Louie Johnson.
Newcastle got off to the worst possible start when Feyi-Waboso touched down with less than 40 seconds on the clock but they responded five minutes later when Blamire took an offload and sidestepped a challenge to score.
Moroni then ran onto a chip from Iwan Stephens on the left to get the third try of a frantic opening seven minutes.
Injuries plagued the rest of the half, with Exeter’s Will Haydon-Wood introduced for try scorer Feyi-Waboso in the 11th minute but only lasting 10 minutes himself before limping off.
The breakdown went the way of Newcastle for most of the half, Guy Pepper proving a constant thorn in turning the ball over to the home side before he too went off injured.
Slade thought he had reduced the deficit with a penalty from 35 metres, but the officials adjudged his kick was too high and ruled against him.
The same player made no mistake from the tee two minutes before the break, making it 14-8 going into the interval.
The England back then struck the opening blow of the second period in the 63rd minute, excellent work from winger Ben Hammersley giving Slade a simple finish.
He missed his third kick of the game with the conversion attempt but his side had all of the momentum and capitalised a few minutes later, Iosefa-Scott scoring from close range to give the visitors lead.
Slade added the extras to stretch the lead to 20-14 with 10 minutes to play and a losing bonus point was scant consolation for the hosts, who could not find the try they needed to move in front and remain rooted to the bottom of the table.
Comments on RugbyPass
It’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
22 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
22 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
4 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
4 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
7 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
7 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to comments