Yahoo Movies Exeter Chiefs set up Premier 15s final with Saracens after blockbuster derby win over Bristol Bears
As West Country derbies go, this was a blockbuster. After edging them in the final round of the regular season last week, Exeter Chiefs survived a second-half comeback from Bristol to reach their first Premier 15s final in the most dramatic fashion.
It was Jennine Detiveaux’s 78th-minute try which sent 2,654 home fans into ecstasy as Exeter set up a Premier 15s showdown with Saracens on June 3. The American winger collected Flo Robinson’s pass off the back of a driving maul before wrestling with Courtney Keight to triumphantly dot down and break Bristol hearts.
“I’m exhausted, so God knows how the players feel. What a game of rugby. Momentum swings, big hits, good tactical decisions - it had it all really - it was a really good advert for the women’s game,” said an elated Susie Appleby, the Exeter coach, who paid tribute to the club’s chairman, Tony Rowe, for pouring money and resources into his start-up women’s side which joined the women’s top flight two seasons ago. What did he make of his side’s last-gasp victory?
“I won’t use the expletive, but the second word was ‘brilliant,’” said Appleby. “Tony’s really pleased. He’s invested an unbelievable amount of energy and resources into what we’re doing. That’s what enabled us to become successful.”
Detiveaux’s score was, in fact, the only period of attacking rugby Exeter enjoyed in a hugely physical contest which saw them relinquish a 21-0 lead. The home side were breezing towards the final after a brace of scores from Hope Rogers and another from Linde Van der Velden, but took their foot off the gas.
It took Bristol 20 minutes to make their first foray into Exeter’s 22, when Hannah West’s try re-energised Dave Ward’s side. Kiera Bevan - who pipped England Grand Slam-winner Leanne Infante to a starting place at scrum-half - sniped moments later to give her side a lifeline before the break.
The visitors looked almost certain to celebrate their status as comeback queens when Phoebe Murray crossed, but Exeter - who defended for 24 phases at one point before giving away a penalty which led to West’s second and Bristol’s fourth - dug deep.
The Chiefs have enjoyed quite the fairytale rise in the women’s top flight with their internationally diverse side, which has drawn criticism for its apparent reluctance to develop English talent.
Yet the part Robinson, their young English fly-half, played in her side’s decisive try, would appear to undermine such an argument. With two minutes left on the clock, Exeter’s weary maul looked more like a crab scuttling sideways and the 20-year-old read it brilliantly, feeding Detiveaux at the crucial moment.
“It’s unbelievable what’s happening around here,” added Appleby, who guided her team to the Allianz Cup last month. “There’s such a huge appetite for the game - not just for the men but for the women - it doesn’t matter who’s in a Chiefs shirt. For the first time, we sold hospitality boxes today. That’s unreal. There’s a lot of energy going into the game from this club and it’s getting its rewards.”
Match details
Scoring sequence 5-0 Rogers try, 7-0 Cantorna con, 12-0 Van der Velden try, 14-0 Cantorna con, 19-0 Rogers try, 21-0 Cantorna con, 21-5 West try, 21-10 Bevan try, 21-12 Reed con, 21-17 Murray try, 21-19 Reed con, 21-24 West try, 26-24 Detiveaux try, 28-24 Cantorna con.
Exeter: M Doidge, E Sinclair, K Kobayashi, G Cantorna, J Detiveaux, P Garcia (M Foster 68), F Robinson; H Rogers (G Senft 68), E Tuttosi, D Menin, N Fryday (M Hunt 57) L Van der Velden (E Jefferies 57), P Leitch, R Johnson, K Zachary.
Replacements not used: C Nielson, M Roberts, B Bradley, N McGillivray.
Bristol: K Powell, J Hesketh, P Murray, A Reed, C Keight, L Skuse (E Snowsill 54), K Bevan; S Pam (C Kill 76), H West, S Bern, D Burns (N John 69), A Ward, A Butchers, Manon Johnes, S Lillicrap (E Mulhearn 64).
Replacements not used: H Phillips, G Nigrelli, E Lovibond.
Referee: Charlie Gayther
Attendance: 2,564
