| Newcastle: (14) 14 |
| Tries: Blamire, Moroni Cons: Johnson 2 |
| Exeter: (8) 20 |
| Tries: Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Iosefa-Scott Cons: Slade Pens: Slade |
Exeter Chiefs had to come from behind at Kingston Park as they beat Newcastle Falcons to claim their first away Premiership win of the season.
There were three tries in the first eight minutes as Jamie Blamire and Matias Moroni crossed for Falcons to erase Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s early try.
But the Chiefs stepped it up in the final quarter with two more tries.
Henry Slade got the first and then converted the second from Exeter replacement prop Josh Iosefa-Scott.
Slade missed a routine conversion to add the extras to his own try, as well as an equally simple penalty opportunity earlier – and, trailing 14-13, it looked like that might cost the Chiefs.
But they kept their cool to stretch winless bottom club Newcastle’s run without a Premiership victory to 10 matches, dating back to their last success, at home to Gloucester on 24 March.
Exeter had another scare last weekend when Slade kicked a last-minute penalty to earn the Chiefs a one-point win over Gloucester at Sandy Park.
With an unchanged starting line-up, it initially looked as if it might prove a bit more routine this time, when the visitors scored with their first attack as Feyi-Waboso went in at the right corner.
But Newcastle’s response was pretty rapid as dainty-footed hooker Blamire cleverly stepped his way over.
Young Cumbrian Louie Johnson, making his first Premiership start at 10 after coming off the bench in last weekend’s defeat at Sale, added the kick – and then another in the eighth minute to improve try number two from the recalled Moroni, who ran on to a chip kick from Iwan Stephens to touch down on the left.
The Argentina international centre’s return was one of seven changes made by Newcastle – and their reshaped side then more than held their own.
Other than a Slade penalty to reduce Exeter’s half-time deficit to 14-8, there was then no further scoring until the 63rd minute when Slade got the Chiefs’ second try.
He then missed the chance to kick his side ahead. And, having won all four of their home Premiership games this season, but lost on both of their away trips, to Harlequins and Northampton, a third straight defeat on their travels still looked on the cards.
But the much vaunted Exeter pack came up with the goods, Iosefa-Scott burrowed over from close range, Slade kicked the goal – and Newcastle had to settle for only a losing bonus point, their fourth one-pointer of the season.
Newcastle: Penny; Radwan, Moroni, Hutchison, Stephens; Johnson, Elliott; Brantingham, Blamire, Bello, Hawkins, McDonald, Rubiolo, Pepper, Chick (capt).
Replacements: Byrne, Brocklebank, McCallum, van der Walt, Cross, O’Sullivan, Jennings, Brown.
Exeter: Wyatt; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Hawkins, Hammersley; Skinner, Cairns; Sio, Yeandle, Painter, Tuima, Jenkins (capt), Vermeulen, Roots, Davis.
Replacements: Norey, Hepburn, Iosefa-Scott, Pearson, Vintcent, Townsend, Haydon-Wood, Hendrickson.
Referee: Christophe Ridley
Assistant Referees: Jack Makepeace & Jon Healy
TMO: Dean Richards
