Lifeline for Chiefs after battling display

Rob Baxter’s Exeter Chiefs side threw themselves a European lifeline by dispatching of visiting Ulster with a five-star showing at Sandy Park.

Having started the day bottom of the pile in Pool 5, all of a sudden the Devonians are now up to second in the standings and in with a potential shout of qualifying for the quarter-finals of this season’s Champions Cup.

For that to happen, they will have to travel to leaders ASM Clermont Auvergne and garner a bonus point victory at the Stade Marcel Michelin. Even then, however, that still may not be enough, should results elsewhere in the competition go against them.

The fact they have this chance, though, is down to this latest stellar showing where two tries apiece from Michele Campagnaro and Thomas Waldrom, plus a penalty try, proved the highlights in a notable victory over the visiting Irishmen.

An early Sean Reidy try, plus a brace for the dangerous Charles Piutau, kept Ulster in contention for a large part of the game. However, it was never enough to thwart the Chiefs, who will head across the Channel in a week’s time with nothing to lose, but everything to gain.

Back in European action after a profitable period in the Aviva Premiership in recent weeks, the Chiefs were looking to finish their home campaign in the Champions Cup on a high note having suffered early losses at Sandy Park to French rivals ASM Clermont Auvergne and Bordeaux-Begles.

Coach Baxter paraded another powerful line-up for the clash against an Ulster outfit, who themselves still harboured hopes of claiming one of the three best runners-up spots after Clermont had earlier in the afternoon already assured themselves of top spot in Pool 5 with a narrow win in Bordeaux.

For the full match report, go to  http://exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/chiefs-31-ulster-19/

Pictures: Exeter Rugby Club/Pinnacle Photo Agency