RUGBY NEWS: Bristol 10 Exeter 29:INSPIRED BY a man-of-the-match performance from the former Irish under-21, Dungannon and Ulster outhalf Gareth Steenson, Exeter Chiefs last night reached the Guinness Premiership for the first time in their history thanks to an emphatic win away to Bristol in the second leg of the Championship final.
Captained by Tommy Hayes, the former Shannon lock and brother of Irish record caps holder John, the Chiefs’ Irish colony also featured the former Irish under-21 captain and Connacht lock David Gannon and the ex-Ulster winger Paul McKenzie.
They will replace Worcester in English rugby’s top-flight next term after easily extending a three-point first-leg lead to triumph 38-16 on aggregate at a packed Memorial Stadium.
Steenson kick 24 of his team’s points through six penalties and two drop-goals, while substitute hooker Simon Alcott scored a late try.
Bristol produced a first-half touchdown for full-back Luke Arscott, while Adrian Jarvis slotted a conversion and penalty. They could have few complaints at the final whistle though, given that their forwards were emphatically outgunned.
Exeter who will now build towards a debut Premiership campaign and showcase their outstanding facilities at Sandy Park to a wider audience with considerably-enhanced finances.
A Championship record crowd of 11,850 looked on as Exeter began the defence of a 9-6 first leg lead given to them in Devon a week ago by three Steenson penalties. Bristol looked to make early in-roads by putting pace on the ball, yet Exeter’s forwards had other ideas, and a powerfully-driven lineout set up Steenson for a fifth-minute penalty that doubled Chiefs’ overall advantage.
Steenson quickly added a second penalty, only for Bristol to show their impressive creativity by conjuring a try from their first attack. Jarvis slipped effortlessly through Exeter’s defence as the rain began to pour down, and his perfectly-timed pass saw Arscott glide over.
Jarvis’s conversion edged Bristol 7-6 ahead, yet it proved a short-lived lead as the unflappable Steenson booted two further penalties in quick succession, one from inside his own half.
There was no stopping Exeter’s Irish marksman, and a drop-goal 10 minutes before the break meant Bristol trailed overall in the tie by 11 points.
Exeter were excellent value for their 15-7 interval advantage, and left Bristol’s hopes of a swift Premiership return facing extinction unless the home forwards could deliver a vastly-improved effort, especially in the lineout.
Jarvis narrowed the gap through a 52nd-minute penalty, but he missed two chances either side of that strike. And it was the cue for Steenson to show him exactly how it should be done, effortlessly landing two further penalties before another drop-goal and Alcott’s try meant the Chiefs’ travelling supporters could start celebrating.
BRISTOL:L Arscott; Robinson, Eves, Fatialofa, T Arscott; Jarvis, Spice; Irish, Blaney, Thompson, Montagu, Winters, Grieve, Pennycook, Phillips. Subs Not Used: Hayes, Vunipola, Barry, Merriman, Alford, Giddens, Adams.
EXETER:Foster; Jess, Sestaret, Dollman, McKenzie; Steenson, Thomas; Sturgess, Clark, Tui, Hayes, Hanks, Slade, Scaysbrook, Baxter. Subs Not Used: Alcott, Budgen, Gannon, Johnson, Stuart-Smith, Gray, Cornwell.
Referee:Andrew Small (RFU).
Exeter win 38-16 on aggregate
