Season 2
Sandy Park
By ShoutsLoudlyInRain
June 16 2013
Shouts Loudly reviews Exeter Chiefs second season...syndrom? I don't think so!
Season 2
After Our amazing first season in the premier league amongst England’s elite a few of the pundits were starting to sit up and take notice , but most still thought we were only still in the prem because we had caught the other teams napping. The new buzzword amongst these pundits was second season syndrome a phrase that is used to describe a downturn in fortunes for a club 2 seasons after promotion. For myself and many Chiefs supporters 11th place this season would have done but once again rob and the boys were going to prove that they are not in the premier league by accident , deserving a place at the top table. We all awaited the fixture list and the first on the list was a mouth-watering trip to Welford road.
Having performed admirably in the first season against the tigers and with tigers missing a few players on world cup duty could we go one better than last year. The boys could not have got of to a better start as Josh Tatupu caught the kick off and sent Sireli Naqelevuki in with only a few seconds on the clock, this game kept the attention as the game ebbed and flowed and when Tigers missed a last minute drop goal attempt the unthinkable had been achieved a victory away at Welford road.
Leicester Tigers 28 Exeter Chiefs 30 4 points
Next up saw the Falcons come to Sandy Park in a game seen as crucial to our survival as they were once again seen as one of the bottom teams. This match was a close affair first half. Chiefs opened up second half to claim their first Premiership try Bonus point win in front of what was a disappointing home crowd of just over 5,000.
Exeter Chiefs 32 Newcastle 15 5 points
The Trip to our nearest rivals Bath was full of expectation after 2 very good wins but alas yet again our nearest rivals came out on top in a to and fro battle which saw the home side edge ahead by a couple of scores just after half time a penalty try in the dying minutes to the chiefs set up a frantic last minute battle with TJ’s finger tips being only mm’s away from catching a cross field kick which would have secured the win, as it was a bonus point kept Chiefs in the right half of the table.
Bath 23 Exeter chiefs 19 1 point
The next visitors to Sandy park were London wasps this game was dominated by the chiefs who should have with a much bigger margin but it was the win that took us up to third place in the league.
Exeter Chiefs 21 Wasp 11 4 points
Saracens came to sandy park sitting second on points difference above the Chiefs . It was who took the spoils in what was not the best of matches from a spectator’s point of view but in which chiefs again picked up a losing bonus point. This would keep us in the top 4.
Exeter chiefs 13 Saracens 17
Spirits were high amongst the Exeter supporters who traveled to Franklin's gardens we were on a rich vein of form and saints were on a bad losing streak but as is typical in the premiership saints decide to find their form against us in convincing fashion this was so far this season the first game that we had failed to get any points from.
Northampton Saints 33 Exeter 3 0 points
Our Second Away trip in row saw us travel to the stoop to watch a strange game where Exeter dominated from start to finish and had 80% possession but came out on the losing side mainly due to inability to convert chances when in the red Zone. Quins defence to their credit was immense but I for one just came away from the game with a sense of that was one that got away rather than a great away bonus point.
Harlequins 19 Exeter Chiefs 13 1 point
Gloucester in our first season had been beaten in the first game of the season and their return to sandy park brought in a large crowd helped by the vast numbers of Gloucester supporters who had made the trip down. The game lived up to expectations in a hum dinger of a battle with Gloucester running out eventual winners and the Chiefs once again picking up that all-important bonus point
Exeter Chiefs 19 Gloucester 24 1 point
The sale trip is one that I have yet to make as the journey for me on the coach just seems to long especially when you add to the fact they tend to play Friday nights make it even more difficult. It was good to see that a few hardy chiefs supporters made the trek up. This game got off to the worst possible start from the chiefs point of view with 2 very quick scores from sale. Prompting a few tribe members to have some harsh opinions. However as we have seen on many occasion watching chiefs they have a never say die attitude that has to be admired and gradually got back into the game with a penalty try and then Mieres leveled the scores with 72 minutes on the clock for what most would have thought was an amazing comeback to get 2 points , However in the dying minutes of the game came the best pass I have seen to Mieres who darted under the posts for the win unfortunately for sale the pass was from one their players and the intercept score gave those who had made the long trip lots to cheer about, All you could hear was tomhawk chop loud and clear from the home fans
Sale 23 chiefs 30 4 points
Next we saw newly promoted Worcester come to Sandy Park. Worcester were seen at the start of the season as a team we needed to beat if we were going to stay out of the relegation dog fight even though we were now a few points clear of that battle. This was seen as an important game non the less. The game turned into an edgy affair which was probably to be expected with the chiefs running out the victors thanks to Mieres slotting all of the Chiefs Points.
Exeter Chiefs 15 Worcester 9 4 points
The Christmas game saw the tribe travel to the Madstad to take on London Irish. A large contingent traveled to reading, Chiefs once again took a long time to settle into the game and quick scores from the Irish wingers saw us trailing by 10 at half time. with Second half continuing in the same vain once again the chiefs rallied managing a late bonus point thanks to Luke Arscott try and Meires Penalty.
London Irish 29 Exeter Chiefs 22 1 point
New years eve brought the unbeaten Quins to Sandy park. To be honest the score line did not really reflect the match as Rory Clegg conspired to miss penalty after penalty for the visitors and the phrase couldn’t hit a barn door with a banjo was very true for him , no matter how close he conspired to miss the posts. Then Steeno got a kick late on in the match which was one of the wobbliest kicks I have ever seen even the touch judge wasn’t sure if it had gone over and the TMO was called in to have a look. When the decision came through the capacity crowd when wild but it was all short lived as Clegg again lined up a kick in truth probably his hardest and for once he hit it straight and true to win the match.
Exeter Chiefs 9 Harlequins 11 1 point
The away trip to Newcastle saw another tense affair between the two sides and would end up with the falcons Coach being dismissed shortly after as they lost to the chiefs again and the writing was on the wall for them firmly planted on the bottom and the win would keep the Chiefs in the top 6
Newcastle 10 Exeter Chiefs 16 4 points
Having beaten tigers at Welford road at the beginning of the season our attentions were turned to the possibility of a double over them as they visited Sandy Park. Tigers started well enough with a try and then a penalty but as the game progressed it was the Exeter boys who were starting to apply the pressure and when TJ charged down Toby Floods kick for Richie to score the chiefs never looked back and even denied the tigers a bonus point.
Exeter Chiefs 19 Leicester Tigers 11 4 points
For me it was this next game that summed up our season. In awful wet conditions we bludgeoned are way to another away win at Adams Park. With wasps camped in our 22 for the last 20 minutes we never gave up and came out the winners in a contest that saw us move up to 5th Place in the league.
London Wasps 12 Exeter Chiefs 15 4 points
I now really started to believe that we could get Heineken cup rugby. But then up popped our nemesis Bath who came to sandy park to win what can only be described as a dire game despite the loss we picked up another bonus point and had only failed to do so in 1 game so far
Chiefs 9 Bath 12 1 point
Sale Sharks visited Sandy Park also having aspirations for Heineken cup sitting in 6th place only a couple of points behind us. However Rob and the boys put sale to the sword leading 18 -0 at half time and were playing an expansive fast flowing game of rugby which had everybody on their feet. It was like watching a Chiefs exhibition match at times as they threw the ball around in dazzling fashion picking up a try bonus point in the process
Exeter Chiefs 37 sale 12 5 points
Sale was the start of a run of three games to remember as the tribe traveled to Kingsholm and occupied the middle of the shed. The chiefs started the way they had played against sale with some cracking running rugby and got 2 first half tries for their efforts , they also had one disallowed by the TMO which was trialling at this match. Second half saw 10 minutes of amazing rugby from Gloucester scoring three tries in that 10 minute period putting them back on top.I remember the qoute from the Gloucester local rag "all was well in the cherry & whites World but Alas there were still 2 minutes left on the clock".chiefs never say die attitude surfaced as they started to up the pressure on Gloucester resulting in a penalty which Steeno duly converted a few minutes later after a couple of penalties at the ruck and scrums. Ally Muldowny barrowed over the line but it was impossible to see if he grounded the ball over to you Tony Spreadbury as we all watched replay after replay on the big screen it still looked to close to call but seconds later the shed erupted with the sound of chiefs fans. The tomahawk chop peeled out. All went quiet as we realised that Steeno still had to kick the conversion which he duly did and with 30 seconds on the clock we just need to catch the restart and kick it out. Celebrations at Kingsholm were not unlike Bristol on that great night when we got promotion hundreds of chiefs supporters sent the tomahawk reverberating around Kingsholm and kept the chiefs firmly in fifth place and one step closer to joining the European elite.
Gloucester 27 Exeter Chiefs 28 4 points
After the Gloucester win we could be excused for being more than a little excited and with London Irish coming to Sandy Park next we were also a little worried as like Bath we had not managed to beat Irish since promotion those fears were quickly put to rest as the boys put in a workman like process for another win.
Exeter Chiefs 18 London Irish 11 4 points
We were firmly in 5th place and only a couple of points away from 4th with saints a couple of points above us as we took to the road again to face Worcester , After previous results it would have been a brave man to predict a better game than Gloucester but a better game it was as the boys took control with the new found running game before a couple of things swung the game back towards Worcester, Camacho got a yellow card for an tip tackle , Then what has to be one of the luckiest tries I have ever seen when Miles Benjamin over kicked the ball but instead of going dead it hit the crossbar and fell straight back into his hands to score. With Goody kicking Worcester seemingly out of touch with the boot but since when have the chiefs given up. With a couple of minutes left on the clock Richie steals the ball at a Worcester scrum which Steeno kicks forward the ball gets recycled ending with dolly going over Steeno Pushes his kick to level the match wide, but with 30 seconds on the clock Goody restarts for the chiefs to recover. Phase after phase the chiefs kept the ball until Comacho runs across the line passes to Tommy which is whipped onto Budgie who’s offload to Sireli saw him charge over the line to score the try bonus point and winning score.
Worcester 26 Exeter Chiefs 31 5 points
The Chiefs had qualified for the Heineken Cup in only our second season in the top flight. Northampton had also lost with 2 games left in the season the chiefs were 4th setting up the next game nicely. Chiefs win they are in the playoffs lose it all goes to the last game and out of our hands as we all remember saints narrowly beat us. our last game against Sarrie's was not one of best although we were leading by a point at half time Sarrie's or mainly Charlie Hodgson starting controlling the game with Sarrie's comfortable winners in the end but no one was down hearted
Exeter Chiefs 15 Northampton Saints 18 1 point
Saracens 40 Exeter Chiefs 22 0 points
This Second Season Syndrome stuff works for me we finished 5th in the league Qualified for the Heineken cup Joining the ranks of Europe’s Elite, The season was outstanding and to cap it all off we reach the Amlin Quarter finals narrowly losing to Stad Frances in Paris.Winning the A league for good measure as well. Rob and the Boys had made the step up from the championship and done it in style this seasons adventures would be difficult to top but next year we would have some great away trips. Oh and let’s not forget the man that is Exeter Rob Baxter who picked up the Coach of the year award for good measure.
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thanks Shouts 
