Chiefs v Esher (take 3)
Sandy Park
By Big Bob
March 24 2008
Exeter Chiefs will be looking for a return to winning ways this Saturday following the defeat at Northampton Saints. The Chiefs host Esher who are at Sandy Park just 4 weeks after their defeat in the EDF Trophy quater-final round. Big Bob runs his eye over the statistics and suggests that the Surrey side will be lucky to avoid a six try defeat this time around.
Match Preview
Exeter Chiefs
v
Esher
Saturday Mrch 29th, ko 3pm
The Chiefs have played four matches since they played and beat Esher 42-7 on 23rd February. With three wins and last weeks loss to Northampton, Exeter have scored 122 points and conceded 26. Within the same timeframe Esher have played three matches (Newbury (home), Coventry (away) and Pertemps Bees (home)) in the process they have scored fifty eight points and conceded the same amount.
Currently lying tenth in league Esher have done very well in their first season after promotion, the threat of relegation long being forgotten.
Top try scorer, Doug Flockhart (Fullback) with 10 league tries to his name and Neil Hallett who has scored 84 points with his boot are just two of Esher’s “useful” squad, who have done well against “two thirds” of the league. Against the leagues top five clubs however Esher have yet to win a league game. And out of the seven that they have played they have scored 107 points and conceded 357, this averages at 15 for and 51 against. Of course their last trip to Sandy Park which was in the cup so if that was added into the mix then the figures would look even worse.
Judging by the Chiefs defensive record, Esher will be very lucky to score 15 on Saturday, if they score a try then they will have done well and another “nilling” by the Chiefs is not an impossibility. Weather permitting (light rain according to the Weather Channel) Jason and Josh should be able to resume their battle of the wings.
Esher’s own website reported, after their recent defeat to Coventry that their captain Duncan Cormack was targeting three more wins to end Esher ’s first National One season on a high. Last week’s victory against the Pertemps Bees means that only two more wins are needed but I can’t see any progress for them against the Chiefs for whom 6 tries and 5 league points should be the order of the day.
The boys did good at Northampton despite the result. I am still traumatised by the chant from the rather large saints fan who sat behind me and my voice is just starting to recover.
Hope the guys can use this week to return to their winning ways, shouldn't be a problem judging by current form.
P.s. Anyone any idea when Tom Johnson is likely to return as we are sure missing those thighs!
Quote:The boys did good at Northampton despite the result.
The boys did well at Northampton despite the result.
Can we please try and maintain standards?
Don't just pick on me though, Orange Feather had spelling mistakes in his post!
Ok you went down narrowly at Northampton but so did the Bees who we did the double over. the Saints struggled against the Newbury Blues at home as did the Chiefs who lost Away at Monks lane.
A place where Esher went and won
looking Forward to Esher winning more points in Devon
What are you smoking angie? cos whatever it is could you send some down this way.
EDF Trophy Winners 2007
B & I Cup Winners 2010
As OF is in the employ of local government I don't expect such high standards of efficiency.
Now to Rugby plenty of individual battles within the squad to secure a cup final place.
FB Kingdom / Marsden
Centre Fatz Bros / Kelly
Stand Off Gray / Yapp / Kelly
Scrum Half CSS / Barrett
The entire back row combinations apart from Andy Miller
Hanks / Stephenson / Bentley
Hooker Jenkins, Blythe, Nelson
Props Sturgess, Kingsland, Dunlea, Parkes
Should PD rest a few players before the cup final and give others an opportunity? What about the kids on loan should they be featuring in the squad over the last few games to give them matchday experience?
There is more important things to discuss than grammar.
There definately are more important things to discuss like how to beat Esher on Saturday, how to beat Nottingham next Sunday, how to retain our second position slot and finally how to beat Northampton at Twickers.
The guys are going to need major support throughout and the return of a few of the broken and battered would be very welcome IMHO.
P.S. Any news re our mascot or a fabulous new song / chant in time for Twickenham?
Or can I say - I is already on detenshun
Quote:It's a thigh thing
Surely it should be there are not there is!
There definately
<Cough> "definitely"
:O)
V.
Quote:Skool teacher
Now to Rugby plenty of individual battles within the squad to secure a cup final place.
FB Kingdom / Marsden
Centre Fatz Bros / Kelly
Stand Off Gray / Yapp / Kelly
Scrum Half CSS / Barrett
The entire back row combinations apart from Andy Miller
Hanks / Stephenson / Bentley
Hooker Jenkins, Blythe, Nelson
Props Sturgess, Kingsland, Dunlea, Parkes
Unfortunately, not as many battles as we'd have liked, Danny will be having a hernia operation next week I believe, Wade is struggling with a shoulder injury not sure how long and I think Sam and Saul are also injured. Hopefully the guys being rested this week like Richie and Luffy will be fit for the Nottingham game.
Chiefs 35 Esher 14
15 Gary Kingdom
14 Josh Drauniniu
13 Mark Fatialofa
12 Stephen Ward
11 Sean Marsden
10 Tony Yapp
9 Clive Stuart-Smith
1 Shane Kingsland
2 Simon Jenkins
3 Brett Sturgess
4 Chris Bentley
5 Lewis Stevenson
6 Chad Slade
7 Alan Miller
8 Toby Freeman
16 Mat Grove
17 Craig Dunlea
18 Dan Parkes
19 James Hanks
20 Andy Miller
21 Junior Fatialofa
22 Adam Staniforth
Referee: Chris Sharp
Touch judges: Richard Kelly, James Minards
Assessor: Mike Coleman
and for this weekends crunch match...
Northampton Saints vs Nottingham
Referee: Dale Newitt (Sm140)
Met Office prediction for 3pm is -
Heavy rain
9°C
Wind S 31 mph gusting to 45 mph
P156...COME ON YOU CHIEFS..
..CHIEFS....CHIEFS....CHIEFS
any offers 
you may need waterproof ink (Sm140)
Still need writers for the Nottingham, Coventry games and the review of the final match away to Donny.