Bayonne no match for powerful Chiefs

A powerful second half display from Exeter Chiefs saw them blitz visiting Bayonne to secure a first-ever home quarter-final in the European Challenge Cup.

Having led 11-0 at half time thanks to an early Jack Nowell try and two penalties from Henry Slade, Rob Baxter’s men upped the ante on the resumption adding a further five tries to secure a Sandy Park showdown with Aviva Premiership rivals Newcastle Falcons this Easter.

Matt Jess, Dave Ewers, Carl Rimmer (pictured), Kai Horstmann and skipper Dean Mumm all went over for tries, three of which were converted by replacement Gareth Steenson. Bayonne, who struggled to cope with the might of their English rivals throughout, mustered a second half penalty from Argentine full-back Martin Bustos Moyano.

However, that was all they could muster on a miserable trip across the Channel for the Top 14 side. With qualification into Europe already assured following their win in Galway the week previous, the Chiefs paraded a virtually unchanged line-up from that which defeated Connacht as they looked to net themselves a home quarter-final.

The sole change came in the pack where the experienced Horstmann came into the back-row in place of the injured Don Armand, while on the bench Jack Yeandle, Sireli Naqelevuki and Will Chudley were also recalled.

Bayonne, already out of the competition despite their home win against Top 14 rivals La Rochelle a week earlier, arrived in Devon minus many of their big-name stars, including Mark Chisholm, Santiago Fernandez and All Blacks ace Joe Rokocoko.

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