| London Irish: (18) 18 |
| Tries: Cornish, Stokes Cons: Jackson Pens: Jackson 2 |
| Exeter: (14) 14 |
| Tries: Woodburn, Schickerling Cons: J Simmonds 2 |
London Irish got here from behind to beat Exeter and record their first league double over the Chiefs in 11 years.
Exeter led 14-0 after 20 minutes because of tries from Olly Woodburn and prop Patrick Schickerling.
But Matt Cornish went over and James Stokes added a attempt on the stroke of half time because the hosts started to take command and led on the break.
Irish had the higher of the second half however couldn’t lengthen the lead as Paddy Jackson missed a late penalty.
The win noticed Irish transfer above Exeter and into sixth place within the Premiership because the Chiefs, who’ve completed within the high two within the final six Premiership seasons, slip additional away from the play-off locations.
Joe Simmonds’ glorious break arrange the sector place for Woodburn to go over beneath the posts a number of phases later for a fifth-minute lead earlier than a nicely-executed 50-22 from the Chiefs fly-half noticed Exeter pressurise Irish and drive a faucet penalty which allowed Schickerling to attain his first attempt for the membership.
But Irish started to hit their straps as Cornish compelled his means over after strain on the Exeter line and Jackson added two penalties.
Exeter had an opportunity of a 3rd attempt shortly earlier than the break however infringed and the Exiles have been capable of relieve the strain earlier than going up the opposite finish and scoring when Stokes bought on the top of a Ben Loader cross to dive into the appropriate nook.
Irish additionally started the second half strongly and Exeter did nicely to maintain the hosts out with some spectacular defence.
The Exiles continued to show the screw on the Exeter pack with an hour gone because the Chiefs conceded a bunch of penalties near their line, however Irish didn’t convert their territorial benefit.
Exeter had an amazing interval of strain with 10 minutes left however knocked on contained in the Irish 22 – and Jackson missed a penalty with the ultimate kick of the sport in a scoreless second half.
London Irish head coach Les Kiss informed BBC Radio London:
“I believed each groups confirmed immense character actually, each groups had a variety of possession in that second half, however the defence was superior on each side, each groups simply could not nail the alternatives that they tried to create.
“We missed a few objectives as nicely, which did not assist, however general to go 14-0 down after which come again and do this it is a fairly good effort.
“It’s a testomony to the mindset that the blokes are constructing when it comes to how they go about their recreation. You’re 14-0 down, you possibly can can go into your shell, we’re studying about what it takes to only stick with the plan and again ourselves and again what we will do.
“I believed each groups threw every part at one another and fortunately we have been out in entrance.”
Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter informed BBC Radio Devon:
“It appears unbelievable that no factors bought scored within the second half, notably in opposition to us contemplating the quantity of territory we have been having to battle in opposition to.
“The errors are coming simply too usually and that is breaking apart any continuity we have got within the recreation and lack of continuity kills us as a aspect.
“When you are dropping possession and defending you’ll be beneath a bit extra strain penalty-clever since you’re defending, but additionally we sort of bought the improper aspect of the deal with space a bit too usually.
“Things rolled up in opposition to us, and that is the robust factor, you have to battle to be on the opposite aspect of issues and make issues roll in opposition to the opposition and we weren’t able to doing that in the present day.”
London Irish: Stokes; Loader, Rona, Van Rensburg, Cinti; Jackson, Phipps; Goodrick-Clarke, Cornish, Hoskins, Simmons, Coleman, Rogerson (capt), Pearson, O’Brien.
Replacements: Willemse, Gigena, Van der Merwe, Munga, Cracknell, Martin Gonzalez, O’Sullivan, Rowe.
Exeter: Hogg; Woodburn, Whitten, H Skinner, O’Flaherty; J Simmonds (capt), J Maunder; Kenny, Innard, Schickerling, Gray, S Skinner, Ewers, Kirsten, Armand.
Replacements: Yeandle, Keast, Iosefa-Scott, Jenkins, Grondona, S Maunder, O’Brien, Hodge.
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU).
