Bristol Bears 14 Exeter Chiefs 24
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is not a name that escapes the tongue easily. However, the talented young winger was very easy on the eye as he shone in Exeter Chiefs’ victory at Ashton Gate.
The 21-year-old entered the race to score a fine try to help his team beat Bristol Bears and take Chiefs to the top of the Premiership. Flanker Jacques Vermeulen’s try three minutes later secured a bonus point for the Devon men, who showed once again that they are serious title contenders despite a massive turnover in the playing squad last summer.
Both sides entered the competition following morale-boosting league wins. The Bears returned to winning ways against Gloucester and Newcastle, while the Chiefs produced one of their best displays by crushing Leicester at Sandy Park. Despite the rain and windy conditions, it was going to be an open contest between two sides always willing to throw the ball around and play attacking rugby at every opportunity.
The Bears led 14-12 at half-time, but it was the visitors who started with more energy, positivity and vigor and quickly put themselves in front from close range with Josh Iosefa-Scott crossing. The Bears had few answers to a powerful surge in the eighth minute and Henry Slade opened the easy conversion. Ross Vintcent almost made a rapid follow-up as he led, shot and chased the ball with impressive pace for such a big man.
However, the threat ended with the penalty given to the winger who tried to stop the Bears’ defense, which eliminated the danger. The home side roared loud and powerful with a powerful strike pushing Chiefs forward through their own line, hooker Gabriel Oghre claiming the score. Callum Sheedy got things going with his conversion and the promise of a host of points was fulfilled. Feyi-Waboso then made a quick dash towards the Chiefs’ back and raced into the right corner.
It was an exciting start with three tries in the first 21 minutes and you had the feeling that it would continue to be blow after blow and whoever managed to land the biggest blow would win in the long run. Feyi-Waboso showed again why both Wales and England continue to push forward with a powerful run into the Bears’ half, past several defenders before crashing to the ground.
He was born in Wales and trained with the national team but also qualified to play for England and Steve Borthwick was in attendance at Ashton Gate and would have made strong note of this from his seat in the crowd. Ellis Genge was next to Borthwick, and the duo had deep conversations from time to time in the first half. The Bristol side could be set to take over the Six Nations captaincy after Owen Farrell decided to remove himself from the international spotlight for a while.
Exeter were finding it fairly easy to break towards the Bristol line, but the home team always had the ability to shoot from distance and a fierce break from center Benhard Janse van Rensburg set up a fine try. The ball eventually found its way into the hands of youngster Noah Heward, who took off and dived spectacularly into the right corner. The 23-year-old has excelled since his move from Worcester Warriors, providing a truly cutting, clinical finish before Sheedy’s superb conversion from the touchline gave the Bears the lead at half-time.
The Chiefs responded impressively with the outstanding Feyi-Waboso providing another fierce surge in the Bears defence. He was stopped inches from the line but scrum-half Stu Townsend was on hand to collect the ball and stretch towards the line. But within minutes Townsend found himself deliberately consigned to the sin bin. Shoot to suddenly stop the bears’ attack. The Chiefs almost took a further lead when hooker Dan Frost tried to break through the line.
However, the home defense stood firm and won a penalty due to the striker’s angry reaction to some of his opponents’ attacks. The Bears did their best to break through the solid white wall of jerseys in front of them but were frequently pushed back by the determined defense. In the end it was up to Vermeulen to score the crucial fourth try that took the game beyond Bristol. Slade’s conversion marked a beautiful victory.
Match details
Points: 0-5, Iosefa-Scott, 0-7, Slade, 5-7, Oghre, 7-7, Sheedy, 7-12, Feyi-Waboso, 12-12, Heward, 14-12, Sheedy, 14-17, Townsend, 14-22, Vermeulen, 14-24, Slade
Bristol: Malins, Heward, Casetawa, Janse Van Rensburg, Lane, Sheedy, Randall, Lahiff, Oghre, Sinckler, Dun, Batley, Luatua, D. Thomas, Bradbury.
Replacements: Ravouvou (74) for Casetawa, Williams (74) for Sheedy, Marmion (74) for Randall, Woolmore (41) for Lahiff, Capon (68) for Oghre, Kloska (68) for Sinckler, Caulfield (66) for Dun, Owen For D. Thomas (79).
Exeter: Hammersley, Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Devoto, Woodburn, Skinner, Townsend, Abuladze, Frost, Iosefa-Scott, Tuima, Jenkins, Roots, Vintcent, Fisilau.
Replacements: Hawkins (57) for Devoto, Wimbush (61) for Woodburn, Cairns (79) for Townsend, Hepburn (55) for Abuladze, Norey (55) for Frost, Street (55) for Iosefa-Scott, Pearson (58) for Tuima , Vermeulen for Vintcent (58).
Sin Bin: Town (45).
Judge: Christophe Ridley (RFU).