Chiefs serve up a Halloween weekend treat

Exeter Chiefs 28 Gloucester 27

On Halloween weekend, Exeter Chiefs served up their supporters a timely treat as they kicked off the defence of their LV= Cup crown with a thrilling 28-27 victory over rivals Gloucester at Sandy Park.

A converted penalty try – two minutes from time – proved the difference on the day, although the visiting Cherry & Whites could easily have stolen it had Aled Thomas not seen a penalty chance cannon back of the posts with the very last kick of the game.

In what was a pulsating encounter throughout, the Chiefs sealed victory thanks to tries from Adam Hughes and Fetu’u Vainikolo, as well as their late penalty try. Exeperienced fly-half Ceri Sweeney did the rest of the damage with a 13-point haul.

Gloucester, it has to be said, played their part as they claimed converted touchdowns through Gareth Evans, Bill Meakes and Yann Thomas. Fly-half Aled Thomas also slotted two penalties to complete the scoring.

Returning to LV= Cup action for the first time since that memorable day on March 18 against Northampton Saints, the Chiefs were able to parade a squad that included six of the victorious Exeter team that day. Two of them included skipper Dean Mumm and hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, both of whom were making their first starts of the season following long-term injuries.

Also included from the outset were young guns Jerry Sexton, Sam Skinner and Max Bodilly, all of whom were making their first-ever starts for the club. Gloucester, meanwhile, arrived in town with a more than useful looking line-up of their own, which included experienced Premiership stars such as skipper James Hudson, Darren Dawiduik, Dan Robson and Shane Monahan.

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