Steve Salvin: 'We never really let the foot off the gas'

Steve Salvin praised his Exeter Chiefs squad after their dominant 47-14 win over Trailfinders Women at Sandy Park.

Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald scored a first half hat-trick on Saturday afternoon, Maisy Allen bagged a brace, while Claudia Moloney-MacDonald and Amy Rule also dotted down in the Premiership Women’s Rugby clash.

It was an overwhelmingly dominant performance from the Devon club, who kept a Trailfinders team boasting the talents of Meg Jones, Niamh Gallagher and Carys Cox quiet.

“Coming into the game, when we saw their team announced we had a huge amount to confidence knowing how strong we were,” Salvin told Exeter Chiefs.

“We also knew that they hadn’t played a huge amount of rugby recently and that potentially gave us an in to the game.

“The way we started the game was really pleasing because we were able to build into it right from the off.

“It sort of felt like we never really let the foot off the gas. I think on both sides of the ball [Exeter were] outstanding.

“To score seven tries, to concede two, all 23 players got good minutes on the field – the girls should enjoy tonight.”

As the race for the semi-finals intensifies, this victory for Salvin’s team could be worth its weight in gold against another top four contending team.

The club have also got back to winning ways after consecutive losses against top two teams Gloucester Hartpury and Saracens.

Heading into a Round 15 encounter with basement side Leicester Tigers, Chiefs are firmly in third and eight points ahead of fifth-place Sale Sharks.

“There’s a reality going into these games that maybe you think; we can nick a win and maybe get a couple of points,” Salvin said.

“You sort of justify that in your own head. But when you get the five and the opposition don’t get anything it’s doubly pleasing.

“As much as the result is great, it’s probably the performance that is the most pleasing bit, because we’ve had a couple of difficult weeks.

“We haven’t been at our best and we probably haven’t put our best foot forward in terms of competing with the teams that are currently top two in the league.

“I think what the girls can take from today is, that’s phenomenal team that Ealing put out today and we’ve played particularly well.

“They should take a huge amount of confidence and belief from it.”