Following a 38-14 triumph for Exeter Chiefs over Newcastle Red Bulls in the PREM Rugby clash at Kingston Park, here’s our five takeaways from the game on Friday night.
The top line
Exeter ran out six-try winners over their hosts as Paul Brown-Bampoe (2), Campbell Ridl (2), Olly Woodburn and Stephen Varney all went over for Rob Baxter’s men.
The Chiefs were largely lethal in possession and will be thrilled to have got the job done so early in the piece, with plenty of positives to take from the PREM Rugby win.
For Newcastle they came back down to earth with a bump after their impressive shift at Northampton was undone as Exeter put them to the sword in a one-sided match.
Christian Wade and Connor Hancock scored their tries but they were never in this game as Exeter showed the table doesn’t lie as they jump up to third spot this evening.
Complete Chiefs
It was a perfect first half from Exeter as they ran over five tries en route to a 26-minute bonus point, handing Newcastle a mountain to climb in the north-east of England.
The Red Bulls were torn to shreds by the Chiefs whose power runners got them over the advantage line at will before their wide men profited, with the home side all at sea.
Baxter will be delighted with this performance but while Exeter were excellent, it is fair to say that Newcastle were disappointing defensively as the Chiefs made them pay.
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But the net result of this away win keeps the Chiefs very much in the top four picture and also gives them confidence ahead of their Challenge Cup showdown with Munster.
Wade chase continues
The lone positive moment of the first half for Newcastle Red Bulls came seven minutes from the break as Wade grabbed a wonderful solo try that ended a personal drought.
The ex-NFL star is now just seven tries away from Chris Ashton’s PREM Rugby record and Wade will be delighted to reduce the margin and also how the score came about.
Wade had so much to do on the right wing but he beat four players thanks to pace, footwork and power in contact. How Newcastle will want him to hit a hot streak of form.
The other No.14
While Wade’s try was special, the performance of two-try Brown-Bampoe was so complete that he was our player of the match tonight as he shone on both sides of the ball.
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We lost count of the times his defensive work-rate resulted in foiling the Red Bulls and he backed that up with a couple of scores in a showing that boosts his improving stock.
Alongside the also impressive Ridl on the other sideline, Exeter Chiefs have two wings bang in form and there’s Immanuel Feyi-Waboso set to return soon too. Quite the luxury.
Wallaby impresses
It’s only right that we put the spotlight on one of the Chiefs forwards tonight, this after they set that incredible platform for Harvey Skinner and company to put on this show.
That man is Tom Hooper who was an absolute colossus in the white jersey, making nine carries and also chipping in with a game high three turnovers in an all-action showing.
The Wallabies back-rower been such as fantastic addition to Baxter’s troops and will no doubt continue to prove a key figure as Chiefs press on for silverware on two fronts.