Newcastle 3-41Exeter: Chiefs blow Falcons away with super first half - Ruck
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 1: Don Armand (L) of Exeter Chiefs celebrates with team-mate Ben Moon after he scores a try for his side during the Aviva Premiership match between Newcastle Falcons and Exeter Chiefs at Kingston Park on November 1, 2015 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Clint Hughes/Getty Images)
Aviva Premiership

Newcastle 3-41Exeter: Chiefs blow Falcons away with super first half

1 November 2015
Rugby Rucker
  • Exeter thrashes Newcastle 41-3 in the Aviva Premiership at Kingston Park on Sunday
  • Will Chudley, Julian Salvi, Don Armand x2 and Matt Jess touch down for Chiefs in the first-half
  • Chiefs Moray Low crosses for Chiefs sixth try after the break
Exeter Chiefs had won just two away games in the Premiership since last November, but today they put that record to bed with a dominant bonus-point victory against Newcastle at Kingston Park. 

Five first half tries from Exeter, made up of scores from Will Chudley, Julian Salvi, Matt Jess and a brace from Don Armand, blew the hosts away and secured the bonus point in the process.

A second score from Moray Low for the visitors completed Newcastle’s misery with Gareth Steenson completing the Chiefs total with an 11-point haul from the tee.

Meanwhile the Falcons, who have now lost eight of their last nine meetings against the Chiefs, failed to score a try in a Premiership match for the first time since a trip to London Irish in April 2014.

The day started brightly for Falcons as fly-half Mike Delany had initially given the hosts the lead from the tee, but it was all downhill from there for the North East based club.

Chudley was first to cross the whitewash for the visitors after charging down Delany’s attempted clearance after seven minutes. Steenson added the extras, 3-7

Chiefs then grabbed their second score of the opening quarter when back-rower Salvi, who recently joined from Leicester Tigers, bundled his way over from behind the pack. Steenson converted again to stretch Exeter’s lead to 12 points.

The visitors ever expanding-advantage continued to grow after 21 minutes when Don Armand touched down at the back of a rolling maul. Steenson’s attempted conversion hit the post, but the Chiefs held a commanding lead, 3-19.

Exeter secured the bonus point just after the half hour when Newcastle’s calamitous defence was unlocked for Matt Jess to touch down on his 100th Premiership appearance. Steenson’s attempt to add the extras again hit the post, meaning the visitors had built up an enormous 21-point lead.

Half-time didn’t come quick enough for the Falcons as there was time right at the end of the opening 40 for Exeter to pinch another turnover and subsequently score another try. Henrey Slade was the architect, drawing the tackle before offloading to Don Armand, who dived over for his second try. Steenson made no mistake in adding the extras this time, 3-31.

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 1: Tom Penny of Newcastle Falcons catches a high ball during the Aviva Premiership match between Newcastle Falcons and Exeter Chiefs at Kingston Park on November 1, 2015 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Clint Hughes/Getty Images)
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 1: Tom Penny of Newcastle Falcons catches a high ball during the Aviva Premiership match between Newcastle Falcons and Exeter Chiefs at Kingston Park on November 1, 2015, in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Clint Hughes/Getty Images)

The Falcons did manage to cross the whitewash after the restart through new addition Belisario Agulla, but the score was wiped off after a trip to the TMO uncovered a knock-on in the build-up.

Exteer then added their sixth score to make the win even more secure after 68 minutes through Moray Low. The prop picked up to make the crucial move and squirm over the line following some intense pressure from the Chiefs deep into the Falcons 22.

Steenson then ended the game with a sweetly struck penalty, 3-41.

MAN OF THE MATCH
Exeter: Don Armand

Don Armand of Exeter Chiefs poses for a picture during the Exeter Chiefs photocall for BT at Sandy Park Stadium on September 8, 2015 in Exeter, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images for BT)

The number 8 led the charge for the Chiefs with his dominant performance in the back-row where he made 12 carries, made 47 metres and got two tries for his troubles.

Newcastle: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Alex Tait, 13 Tom Penny, 12 Adam Powell, 11 Giamba Venditti, 10 Mike Delany, 9 Micky Young, 8 Ally Hogg, 7 Nili Latu, 6 Will Welch (c), 5 Calum Green, 4 Mouritz Botha, 3 Jon Welsh, 2 Scott Lawson, 1 Eric Fry.
Replacements: 16 George McGuigan, 17 Rob Vickers, 18 Taione Vea, 19 Joshua Furno, 20 Todd Clever, 21 Ruki Tipuna, 22 Tom Catterick, 23 Belisario Agulla.

Exeter: 15 Phil Dollman, 14 Matt Jess, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Sam Hill, 11 James Short, 10 Gareth Steenson (c), 9 Will Chudley, 8 Don Armand, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Damian Welch, 4 Mitch Lees, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Ben Moon.
Replacements: 16 Jack Yeandle, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Moray Low, 19 Ollie Atkins, 20 Thomas Waldrom, 21 Dave Lewis, 22 Ian Whitten, 23 Olly Woodburn.

Date: Sunday, November 1
Venue: Kingston Park
Kick-off: 13:00 GMT
Referee: Ian Tempest
Assistant referees: Roger Baileff, Steve Lee
Television match official: Sean Davey
Timekeeper: David Hudson
Assessor: Andrew Vertigan