Exeter secure Anglo-Welsh Cup Final spot

Editor

Exeter were made to graft but got the job done as they beat Newcastle 20-17 at Sandy Park on Sunday and claim a place in the Anglo-Welsh Cup Final in the process.

Joe Simmonds was the Chiefs' hero as he landed the match-winning penalty in the 77th minute after Newcastle held the lead for large periods earlier on.

Exeter made a terrific start and opened the scoring as early as the third minute when Stu Townsend crossed the whitewash after gathering a pass from Santiago Cordero, who tore the Falcons' defence to shreds with a superb line break in the build-up.

But despite that early try, the Falcons took control of proceedings as the half progressed and soon narrowed the gap courtesy of a Toby Flood penalty in the 13th minute.

The visitors continued to dominate and were rewarded in the 26th minute when Kyle Cooper scored their first try, off the back of a maul deep inside Exeter's 22. And in the 33rd minute, they went over for their second try – Simon Hammersley rounding off after Nili Latu, Sonatane Takulua and Ally Hogg combined brilliantly in the build-up.

That gave the Falcons a 17-7 lead at half-time but the home side would launch a brave fightback after the break.

In the 48th minute, the Chiefs' forwards took the ball through some phases inside Newcastle's 22 before striking out wide with their backs. The ball came out to Simmonds, who stepped past a defender before dotting down.

He added the extras and although the next 15 minutes was an attritional affair, as both sides tried to gain the ascendancy, Simmonds also slotted a penalty in the 65th minute which meant the sides were level at 17-17 with time running out on the clock.

The momentum was with the Chiefs and the 77th minute, Simmonds secured the result with his three-pointer from the kicking tee although Newcastle had a chance to draw level just before full-time but Joel Hodgson's penalty attempt was off target.

The scorers:

For Exeter:
Tries:
Townsend, Simmonds
Cons: Simmonds 2
Pens: Simmonds 2

For Newcastle:
Tries:
Cooper, Hammersley
Cons: Flood 2
Pen: Flood

Exeter: 15 Santiago Cordero, 14 Tom O’Flaherty, 13 Ian Whitten, 12 Ollie Devoto, 11 James Short, 10 Joe Simmonds, 9 Stu Townsend, 8 Matt Kvesic, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Dave Dennis (c), 5 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 4 Mitch Lees, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 Jack Innard, 1 Moray Low
Replacements: 16 Paul Davis 17 James Kenny 18 Jack Owlett 19 Toby Salmon 20 Kai Horstmann 21 Will Chudley 22 Sam Morley 23 Tom Hendrickson

Newcastle: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Vereniki Goneva, 13 Maxime Mermoz, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Sonatane Takulua, 8 Nili Latu, 7 Will Welch (c), 6 Ally Hogg, 5 Sean Robinson, 4 Will Witty, 3 Jon Welsh, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Sam Lockwood
Replacements: 16 Santiago Socino, 17 Rob Vickers, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Calum Green, 20 Ryan Burrows, 21 Michael Young, 22 Joel Hodgson, 23 Chris Harris

Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant referees: Tom Foley (England), Robert Warburton (England)
TMO: Geoffrey Warren (England)