Narrow win in cup match
With the first team away at Newcastle for a Friday evening Premiership match, a young Chiefs' side were at Sandy Park on Saturday to host Bath.
The Chiefs use this competition for the development of younger players, but with a large number unavailable because of injury, the squad was drastically depleted, allowing six players to mak their debut.
The driving wind and rain were not conducive to good running rugby and at times the ball was like a bar of soap.
Playing with the strong wind at their backs in the first half, Chiefs built a 20-10 lead. A brace of Iwan Jenkins penalties got Chiefs up and running before Rus Tuima bludgeoned his way over for a converted try.
Piers Francis slotted a penalty for the visitors before Aidon Davis dotted down. However, with the last play of the half, Bath grabbed seven points with a converted try from Richards.
Coming out for the second half, the Chiefs now had to play into the teeth of the driving wind and rain. It was always going to be a struggle, but the young Chiefs proved to be up to the task. Cheered on by the 9,900 crowd, they resisted the Bath pressure whilst managing to mount some of their own.
Sam Harris soon breached the Chiefs' line for a converted try to narrow the gap to three points.
If Bath thought they were mounting a comeback, Davis was about to prove them wrong, as the Chiefs worked their way up the field via a series of penalties and scrums. Then after a series of pick and goes, he powered over the line for an unconverted try.
The Chiefs were in the ascendancy, but Bath came roaring back to make a nervy ending through an unconverted try by Tom Carr-Smith. The game ended in a 25-22 victory to the Chiefs, which should give the young players confidence to move into next week’s game against Gloucester, the pool decider.
One downside: 19-year-old lock Alfie Bell, enjoying a great debut, came off holding his right arm whilst looking in discomfort. The former Wasps’ player was key to the Chiefs' side. They are waiting further examinations to learn the extent of the injury.
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