With no fit locks, Ben Smith and Glen Carson formed a makeshift second row, with Doun du Preez starting at flanker.  Alex Wilson replaced Simon Black at prop and Matt Davies came in at hooker for Pig Brittin.  Sam Stoop took over from Alex Taylor in the centre, and Sam Rees was given his first outing at scrum half.  Lions had newcomers Dan South, Alex Nash, and John Paul Filler on the bench.  There was a familiar face in the Exeter ranks, with Phil Reed taking his place at scrum half. 

Lions started with a stiff breeze at their backs as Jon Boden’s kick off was fumbled into touch by Exeter.  Ben Smith rose to take a good lineout throw from Matt Davies, and Jon Boden posted the games first points with a neatly taken drop goal from 35 metres.  ( 3 – 0 ) 

Exeter responded immediately as they secured possession at the kick off for centre Ed Lewsey to break, but he was held just short of the line.  Possession was retained, and as the ball was swung right, quick hands from Tony Yapp and a lovely angled run from centre Ben Thompson put him through the gap and under the posts.  Tony Yapp added the simple conversion.  ( 3 – 7) 

Worse was to come for the Lions as Jon Boden’s kick off failed to travel 10 metres.  From the resultant scrum on half way, the ball was swung right where wing Dermot Kelly cut inside.  He was held on the 22, but his pass out of the tackle found support, although there was more than a hint of a forward pass.  Exeter took advantage of this with some excellent support play for Ben Cole to crash over.  Tony Yapp again added the conversion.  ( 3 – 14 ) 

Boden breaks		great pass to Stoop		Try time

Oh dear…….was this the start of a mauling for the Lions?  Certainly not!!  Lions came bouncing back with a terrific try of their own.  Still basking in the glory of his try, Ben Cole allowed Jon Boden to duck under his tackle, and the fly half sped away.  Sam Stoop was on hand to take the perfectly timed pass to cross by the posts.  Jon Boden finished what he had started, by adding the conversion.  ( 10 – 14 ) - [ Click here for video clip of Sam Stoop's try]

Lions were certainly not being overawed by their illustrious opponents, and a midfield turnover gave Spencer Brown room on the left.  However, the wing looked strangely hesitant as he looked for support rather than pin back his ears, and the cover was across to snuff out the danger. 

A lovely loop move by Sam Rees round Jon Boden had Pete Roberts in the clear, but referee Geraint Ashton Jones ruled the pass forward.  However, Lions were not to be denied.  Good driving play forced the penalty, and Jon Boden’s kick reduced the deficit to one point with 27 minutes gone.  ( 13 – 14 ) 

Lions conceded 2 penalties in quick succession to allow Tony Yapp to plant the ball in the corner.  The lineout take was good, the drive was better, and the score inevitable.  Danny Porte claimed the touchdown, with Tony Yapp converting.  ( 10 – 21 ). 

Lions were causing Exeter all sorts of problems in the lineouts, taking their own throws despite no recognised jumpers, and frequently disrupting Exeter possession.  One steal saw a Sam Stoop clearance taken by full back Glen Bunny.  Two would be tacklers allowed him to release Dermott Kelly, but that man Jon Boden was across to bundle the wing into touch. 

In first half injury time, excellent Lions’ defence was wasted as they were penalised for offside.  The all too familiar tap to the corner, take and drive gave Exeter their fourth try, with Tony Yapp adding the conversion.   

Half time 

Lions    13         Exeter   28 

Lions were now facing the strong breeze, and almost conceded a score as a speculative kick downfield just evaded the speedy Exeter wing as the ball bounced agonisingly out of his reach. 

Alex Taylor replaced Sam Stoop in the centre, and Exeter brought on Richard John for Phil Reed, who was given a warm hand by his hometown supporters.   

The second half started as the first had finished, with a 20 metres rolling maul from a lineout seeing the Exeter forwards drive over.  Tony Yapp’s conversion was wide.  ( 13 – 33 ) 

Tony Yapp then displayed his running skills with a lovely break, but the forward pass to his support was spotted this time.  He then hoisted a high cross-field kick that Spencer Brown jumped high to take.  However he had his legs cynically taken from under him by the onrushing Dermott Kelly.  The Lions wing was lucky not to suffer serious injury, and the Exeter wing was extremely lucky to escape with just a mild reprimand from referee Geraint Ashton Jones.  The offence certainly looked to warrant a yellow card. [ judge for yourself click here to view the video clip]
	no attempt to play the ball	should have been yellow

Lions missed a golden opportunity when a Pete Roberts break was carried on by Alex Taylor, but the centre cut inside with support outside and he was swallowed up by the cover. 

Tony Yapp was now using the strong breeze to good effect, keeping Lions pegged back in their own half with some astute kicking.  However, excellent Lions defence kept Exeter at bay, until referee Geraint Ashton Jones missed a knock on and a blatant forward pass as Tony Yapp put Ben Thompson under the posts. Tony Yapp added the conversion.  ( 13 – 40 ) [ have a look at the forward pass. Click here for the video clip]

Exeter continued to press, and almost on the stroke of full time they were halted just short in the clubhouse corner.  However, the ball was swung back across field for Adam Staniforth to squeeze in at the opposite corner.  Tony Yapp’s conversion attempt drifted wide in the swirling breeze.  ( 13 – 45 )  In injury time, Lions capped a sterling performance with another score.  Lloyd Warner set up the position with a deft chip and gather, but when he attempted to repeat the action, his second chip just ran into touch.  However, Exeter knocked on at the lineout, and from the resultant scrum, Lions worked the ball right.  Any opportunity seemed to have been lost as the ball went to ground, but Pete Roberts was on to the loose ball in a flash to pick up and race under the posts from 30 metres.  Jon Boden added the conversion as the full time whistle blew.  All three Lions’ newcomers were given a run out and all look to be useful additions to the squad.  Final result:  Lions    20          Exeter       45
	Roberts picks up
	..and powers over

Don's Musings 

This was an excellent performance from Lions against higher Division opposition.  Despite being heavily outgunned up front, the Lions’ pack stuck to their task throughout, holding their own in the scrums, and performing wonders in the lineout thanks to some spot on throwing from Matt Davies.  The backs proved once again how dangerous they can be, scoring two good tries. 

Now we get down to the serious stuff.  Friday’s visit to Nuneaton gives the Lions the opportunity to get the League bandwagon back on the road after the wheels came off against Harrogate last week.  There is certainly enough talent in the squad, but the application needs to be right on the night.  Certainly if the boys can draw on today’s performance, it should be an interesting evening’s entertainment. 

Rumour has it that Steve Smith should be fit for the game.  If this is the case, the question is……..where to play him??  Lock would seem the natural choice with Chris Jones missing, but a fit Steve Smith in the back row could be devastating.  The main thing if Steve plays is that he comes off the field without any further injuries after the spate that he has suffered.  Certainly a couple of tries to prove his fitness would not go amiss. 

See you all at Nuneaton!!

Jon Boden

Even though Harrogate made short work of the Lions last Saturday, with Worcester’s current form it would seem unlikely that Gate, who challenge them at Sixways next weekend, will be around for the 4^th round games. In view of this consideration Rugby’s prize for a win against Exeter on Saturday would be to follow in Gate’s footsteps and place their combined heads on the Worcester block. Surely not the most sought-after of prizes!                                                                   

Rugby have lost their last six league games against Exeter since completing a somewhat unexpected double over them in the 1998/99 season. The clubs have only once before met in a cup-tie and that was in the fourth round of the Pilkington Cup back in the 1994/95 season. On that occasion Exeter won a closely fought home game by 9-7. Rugby’s contribution consisted of a Kevin Mills try converted by Jim Quantrill. 

The Chiefs have made an unusually poor start to their season and they are not the best of travellers, but even those handicaps are unlikely to be of any benefit to Rugby Lions, unless they make a better fist of the game than they did last Saturday against their Yorkshire visitors.