Season 3
Rob
By ShoutsLoudlyInRain
June 30 2013
ShoutsLoudly gives a detailed review of season 2012/13
Season 3
Our second season was without out doubt a real success with the chiefs exceeding all expectations ending the season 5th place in the premier league, Claiming a prestiges place amongst Europe’s elite in the Heineken cup. June 12th was a day when all chiefs eyes were glued to TV and social media as the draw was going to be made in Dublin for the Heineken cup pool stages. Rob had said Jokingly about getting the pool of death and his wish came true as the chiefs were drawn in pool 5 with the champions Leinster and many peoples favorites to win this year’s competition Clermont with Scarletts making this group a real Test. What a draw , I was doing a 3 month stint at our US parent company at the time and was watching the draw at 5 in the morning and having an overwhelming sense of pride Just over 2 years on from that magic night in Bristol we would be entertaining the champions of Europe.
After what a seemed a long wait the fixtures were finally announced for the premier league and we would have a home start against Sale , a few days later a large number of supporters were making travel plans as the Chiefs first fixture in the Heineken cup was announced , Leinster at the RDS in Dublin was set to be our first outing in the Heineken cup followed by a visit by Clermont to Sandy Park. We had the small matter of 6 premier fixtures with sale being first up at Sandy Park.
The Chiefs continued as they had finished the season playing a fast expansive game which did not always see the ball going to hand in a first half that we dominated and half time the score line did not reflect that dominance with chiefs 14- 3 up. Second half was a master class in running rugby from the Chiefs boys who ran in 5 tries for a fabulous start to the season.
Exeter Chiefs 43 Sale Sharks 6
Our first Away trip of the season was to Franklins gardens. This game was a thriller with saints dominating the first 20 minutes before the chiefs came back into the game as they had all last season nearly pinching the game in the last few minutes, a good away bonus point for our efforts but an injury to josh Tatupu who was back to the sort of form we had seen before breaking his ankle the previous season was a real blow.
Northampton Saints 24 Exeter Chiefs 21
Staying away from home for our next match, with our first trip to the Kassam stadium Oxford, where would become reacquainted with an old adversary from our days in the Championship and ND1 the newly promoted London Welsh. This game for me was the only time I felt disappointed in the boys. We got off to an amazing start with 2 tries in the first 10 minutes then we just seemed to switch off we gifted welsh a couple of scores and the rest was history.
London Welsh 25 Exeter Chiefs 24
Round 4 saw us back at Sandy Park on a wet miserable day to take on Saracens. This game was always going to be an ugly affair with the conditions being so bad. After Chris Ashton saw yellow, Sireli went over the line where he would have been to get a well-earned victory for the boys.
Exeter Chiefs 14 Saracens 12
On a high from the Sarries win we packed the coaches and headed back up to the Midlands to take on Tigers. Having played well against Sarries expectations were high. Unfortunately for the Chiefs boys the tigers pack was in no mood to give anything away and put us under the cosh for large portions of the game and although boys never gave up and played with real passion they were on the wrong side of a drubbing.
Leicester Tigers 30 Exeter Chiefs 8
Back to Sandy Park on a glorious day in Devon set up for running rugby, the champions of England would be our last Premier game before we headed into our new adventure taking on the champions of Europe. This game was an absolute belter with two teams willing to run the ball. The match ebbed and flowed and when Karl Dickson scored quins 3rd try after clegg intercepted the game appeared to have gone in favor of the visitors but the chiefs had different ideas as Shoey got a quick fire double and Sireli added the Chiefs 5th Try. What a way for us to head to Dublin.
Exeter Chiefs 42 Harlequins 28
Destination Dublin Over 1500 Chiefs supporters were heading to Dublin for a new page in the Chiefs history books. Not knowing when the game would be played exactly many supporters traveled for long weekends starting Thursday coming back Monday or Tuesday which would ensure that whatever day the Teli put the match on we would be there. It also meant party time at the home of Guinness. Some of the early starters had a disastrous start with early flights from Bristol being cancelled thankfully all got away.We were on a later flight and when we arrived at the airport there were many supporters already there and arriving. Friday was a day for sampling the delights of Dublin as we took to the open top bus along with many others and toured the city every where you looked you could see supporters all doing the tomahawk chop to each other. Match Day arrived and Myself and CRW headed down to the Guinness factory for a few hours before the main gathering of supporters. The pint at the top of Guinness tower has to be savored which we did while chatting to the many supporters doing the same. A short taxi back to our hotel which was conveniently located right next door to the RDS the bar of the hotel was awash with chiefs supporters having the war paint applied, as the drummers started to drum us out of the hotel the sense of what the boys had achieved in couple of years washed over me. As the hundreds of chiefs supporters marched towards the ground with the tomahawk chop ringing out you could see how special it was to all of us. As the Heineken cup anthem rang out at the RDS the excitement increased and a few of the locals who were sat by us commented on how musical the tribe was, blimey or words to that affect, as the chop rang out as the moment arrived when Tommy led the boys out , the Chiefs had arrived amongst Europe’s elite. The game was amazing as Tommy and the boys had no intention of making up the numbers and was one of the most fascinating first half’s I have watched although only 3 points apiece it was end to end stuff and seemed to fly by. As the game progressed our new found friends from Leinster were joining in with chop , Not only had we arrived but we had given the champions a really good run for their money. Needless to say the after match party went on for a while.
Leinster 9 Exeter Chiefs 6 1 points
The next page in our Clubs history was about to unfold as Sandy Park hosted its first ever Heineken cup match against the might of Clermont. First half of this game showed was an exciting affair with the chiefs going in at half time with a slender lead. Exeter were as it turned out the only team in the competition to actually have a lead at half time against the French giant. As the second half started Clermont stepped up the pace and went through the gears and showed why they were favorites for the tournament, the chiefs once again showed that would not give up even when we were running out of players through injury they still battled away.
Exeter Chiefs 12 Clermont 46 0 points
Our return to premier league action would see us travel to our nemesis Bath who we still had not beaten and unfortunately that was to stay the case despite huge pressure on bath at the end of the game.
Bath 23 Exeter Chiefs 15 0 points
The next game saw the Chiefs involved in LV cup Action with the starting 23 given a rest the side consisted of a mix of older heads and our youngs guns as they took on London welsh at the Kassam. The Team took a little while to click at the Kassam but click they did after being behind at half time 9- 8 they ran in 5 more tries second half. The ospreys were a much tougher proposition but again the Cup team ran out winners.
London Welsh 15 Exeter Chiefs 42 5 points
Exeter Chiefs 23 Ospreys 13 4 points
After the break for LV action we returned to Sandy park to play Worcester this was a pretty one sided affair as the chiefs took Worcester apart from the start of the game. The only disappointment if you can call it that was despite every effort from the boys they could not get the Bonus Point score.
Exeter Chiefs 33 Worcester Warriors 9 4 points
A large contingent of Chiefs supporters headed to reading as we took on London Irish. After getting of to an amazing start with 2 quick tries and dominating, the game turned into an edgy affair in part down to the rain which had starting falling but the guys ran out winners.
London Irish 23 Exeter Chiefs 27 4 points
London Wasps had been flying high in the top 4 in a complete reversal of last season’s form when they came to Sandy Park the Chiefs also were in a rich vein of form which set up a superb match honors even at half time this could go either way but the boys dug deep and took the spoils
Exeter Chiefs 30 London Wasps 23 4 points
Before heading into the Christmas fixtures we had a small matter of the Heineken cup with a double header against the Scarlet's as the supporters coaches arrived at Parc y Scarlet's there was a sense that another page in the History book could be written with our first Heineken cup win, the boys duly obliged and in the process Haydn Thomas added his name in that history book as the scorer of the first Chiefs Heineken cup try. The Game was a good game which ebbed and flowed as Scarlet’s came back into the game but the chiefs never say die attitude came to the front again. Seven days later the Scarlet’s came to sandy park and once again we were treated to a pulsating game with the Chiefs taking the initiative with 2 quick tries before the Scarlet’s forced their way back then the chiefs win the game towards the latter stages with Jimmy Scaysbrook who was Captain for the day, darting through a hole in the Scarlet’s defense.
Scarlet’s 16 Exeter Chiefs 22 4 points Exeter Chiefs 30 Scarlet’s 20 4 points
As we headed into the Christmas period we once again headed to Kingsholm this game was one which got away we dominated large periods of play , scored the only try of the match but a late Freddie burns penalty nicked the game for Gloucester. We did however pick up very valuable bonus point.
Gloucester 18 Exeter Chiefs 16 1 point
The new year game this year saw our nemesis Bath come to Sandy Park could we finally get the monkey off our back and beat them, it all started well and with 30 to we led 12 – 5 and seemed to be heading for that illusive win, then with 5 left bath were awarded a penalty try which drew the scores level. The game finished 12 -12 which was an improvement as bath had not beaten us this time
Exeter Chiefs 12 Bath 12 2 points
Saints were the next visitors to Sandy Park, this was another game where we had most of the play but not the rewards and despite a valiant effort from the boys to get back to bonus point range it was another game which had got away from us in the last couple of minutes.
Exeter Chiefs 19 Northampton Saints 30 0 points
It was now time for the next batch of Heineken cup and LV cup matches and first up was a trip to Clermont this was never going to be an easy trip as Clermont had not lost at the Stade Marcel Michelin for 51 games and as the Chiefs found at home this French juggernaut will overwhelm any team if given a chance. Chiefs started well enough but could not convert pressure into points and then Clermont as they had previously just started going through the Gears running in six tries on the way to a comprehensive victory.Again the Boys had put in a valiant effort and never stopped playing
Clermont 46 Exeter Chiefs 3 0 points
Sandy Park now welcomed the European champions as Leinster rolled into to town, Leinster were in a position to qualify for the latter stages if they scored lots of tries. Exeter were not going to progress out of the group but would also not finish bottom after the two wins over Scarlet’s, However as we all know the Chiefs would not just turn up to make up the numbers and had the opportunity of knocking the champions out of the tournament. It was a Cracking game with both teams attacking it from the off Leinster got an early score but Chiefs came back to level the scores. Leinster scored again but as the first half progressed the chiefs were getting stronger and after another good break by the Chiefs, Steeno kicked to the corner. Exeter then formed a 14 man lineout and the 15 man maul that ensued was brought down by Leinster and the Chiefs awarded a penalty try. Now in front Steeno added 3 more before the half time break. Leinster got another 2 tries second half but Steeno kept us in touch and after a period of mounting pressure in which we nearly scored Leinster cleared their line and were awarded a penalty which Sexton converted to finish the game off.
Exeter Chiefs 20 Leinster 29 0 points
Although this was the end of our first adventure in the Heineken cup it showed once again that we can compete with the best and left the supporters and players alike wanting more. The next two weeks were LV cup games and once again it was our nemesis Bath that ended our chance of progressing , but we did bow out with a good win against Saints at Home before heading to Sale which to many was another disappointing game the first half saw the Chiefs build a lead but it could have been much higher having 2 tries ruled out for forward pass and a couple more chance going begging. Sale who were firmly on the bottom seemed to want this more than us second half and they ramped the game up at took the spoils, it was however a losing bonus point for the Chiefs.
Sale 21 Exeter Chiefs 16 1 point
Exeter Chiefs now found themselves down in 8th place along way adrift of the Heineken cup spot. To stand any chance of qualifying again they needed to start winning and keep winning. Next we saw London welsh come to Sandy Park In what had become a must win match for both Welsh who were in the relegation dog fight and us if we had any chance of qualifying the first half was a bit nervy but then second half Chiefs just cut loose running in a total of 5 tries on the way to an emphatic bonus point victory.
Exeter Chiefs 47 London Welsh 16 5 points
On the way to our next match at the stoop I my must admit to feeling quietly confident that we could beat the current English champions and continue our push towards the Heineken cup spot. As expected both teams would play rugby and for the first time in a while we had a nice dry sunny day. Although Quins got off to a good start with a try, Steeno kept us ticking along and came out second half like a man possessed with a fabulous display of running rugby and some great box kicks from Haydn Thomas the momentum had swung towards the chiefs. When Luke dropped a pass from Jessie there was no sense of doom and not long after Damien went over for the first try the stand behind the post where most of the Chiefs supporters were went ballistic, this was only matched when Luke did get on the scoreboard not long after to finish off the game.
Harlequins 16 Exeter Chiefs 27 4 points
Tigers were next up at Sandy Park on a wet windy day and it was the boot of Steeno and Flood who took all the points with tigers just running out winners with a last minute penalty. Again this was a game that could have gone either way but for a couple of silly decisions, but compared to the result earlier in the year a bonus point would do as Bath and wasps had also lost keeping the push for the European cup spot was still on.
Exeter Chiefs 9 Leicester Tigers 12 1 point
With 4 rounds to go and still 2 points behind Bath and 4 behind wasps we headed up the M5 to Worcester where in the previous season we had witnessed one of the best final couple of minutes with the two late scores and like last year we started like a train scoring two good tries but just like last season Worcester came back into the game and took the lead as we headed into the last 8 minutes we were well on top but unable to convert any chances, with a couple of minutes left on the clock our Australian import Dean Mumm went over for the score that would win the game but like last year there was still time to take the restart this time it was Worcester’s turn to catch the restart and after a couple of nervy minutes the Chiefs shepherded the Worcester player was safelyinto touch and another win was recorded for the Chiefs
Worcester 18 Exeter Chiefs 24 4 points
With 3 wins in the last 4 confidence was very high especially as are next visitors London Irish were struggling towards the bottom of the table a win against them and with wasps and Bath both having difficult away games could see us move into the driving seat in sixth place with 2 games to go. Irish Never really troubled the Chiefs as they made it 4 wins out of 5 add to that the news that bath and wasps had both lost. Chiefs were now back in the cup spot and in control of our own destiny win the last two games and we would be in Heineken cup for the second year running.
Exeter Chiefs 27 London Irish 6
Our visit to Adams Park on Sunday could have seen us safe in 6th place however bath had other ideas beating tigers on the Saturday. Simple maths, win this then wasps were out of the equation for 6th spot leaving bath needing to beat Sarries away. Robs Boys never looked like losing this as they conspired to find huge holes in wasps defense and with a bonus point win the task was nearly complete one very pleasing part to this game was that after getting our 4th try the boys kept the ball for phase after phase to kill of the game. Wasps did get a break away try in the last minute but all too late so one down one to go.
London Wasps 24 Exeter Chiefs 37
Last up was Gloucester in front of what had been a sell crowd for weeks simple task win we would have Heineken cup lose we would have to rely on Sarries. Adding to the spice of this match was that Exeter legend Richie Baxter had announced his retirement and this would be his last game after 16 years at the club all week in the build-up to the match the players and supporters had been tweeting with the hashtag winitforrichie , also since our promotion neither of us had done the double over the other which set this game up to be a cracker , the players had no intention of making it anything other as we witnessed a game which saw Exeter start like a train then a couple of break a ways from Gloucester then with only a few minutes left on the clock Gloucester took the lead only for them to give away a penalty a long way out in the wind which Steeno dropped just short only for cook to slice his kick back towards Steeno who ran it straight back to get another kick at goal with about 1 minute on the clock this time he made no mistake. A few nervous seconds later Gloucester missed a drop goal attempt an Chiefs had won, the prize Heineken cup rugby for another season.
Exeter Chiefs 40 Gloucester 39 4 points
Over our first 3 seasons we have witnessed some phenomenal rugby and for me the most important thing is that we can see the players continue to learn from every new experience they have, Rob is building his squad by adding a few players each season.
Summary of Seasons
Season 1 8th P 22 W 10 L 12 D 0 BP 5 TF 32 TA 42 Pts 43
Season 2 5th P 22 W 12 L 10 D 0 BP 11 TF 39 TA 38 Pts 59
Season 3 6th P 22 W 12 L 9 D 1 BP 9 TF 51 TA 43 Pts 59
I for one am really looking forward to start of the season and having had our Heineken Cup pool announced, we will see Johnny Wilkinson at Sandy Park and i have a real feeling that we might get out of our group this year
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My favorite Moments from each season would be
Season 1
Many to chose from Tigers Away Saints at home
But has to be Glaws at home first game in prem just the for the occasion and atmosphere .
Season 2
Many To chose From Glaws Away , Wuss Away Double over tigers 23 hour Journey to Paris for the QF but i think Glaws Gets it again Huge contingent of Chiefs Fans Their and KingsHolm Sounded Like Sandy Park At the End of the match
Season 3
Again Many to Chose from Quins Home and Away Clermont Home And Away, Dublin This is the most difficult and could not chose
so Dublin and Scarletts Away Clermont Home all Have differant Page in the history books.
Exeter Chiefs - living the dream!
Thoughts are like arrows: once released , they strike their mark. Guard them well or one day you may be your own victim
Quote:Shouts loudly in rain
What is everybody's favorite match from each of our 3 seasons?
Season 1
Gloucester Home
Season 2
Sale Away
Season 3
Scarlets Away
Season 4..... Let's hope Toulon away is up there!
Season 1
Gloucester Home
Season 2
Gloucester Away
Season 3
Leinster Away
tough job to pick them though.
Season 1
Gloucester home
Season 2
Gloucester away
Season 3
Quins away