Rob Baxter claims areas need addressing at Exeter Chiefs as Bristol Bears thwart their play-off hopes

Callum Sheedy produced a stunning solo display to help Bristol Bears to a 40-33 victory over Exeter Chiefs to all but end their play-off hopes.

Six tries from the hosts meant that Exeter Chiefs will not compete in the play-offs for the first time since 2015 barring a complete collapse from Northampton Saints, Gloucester Rugby and Sale Sharks.

Callum Sheedy and Charles Piutau twice put Bristol Bears in the lead during the first half but they were twice pegged back through tries from Santiago Grondona and Josh Hodge meaning the teams went in at halftime level at 14-14.

Piutau grabbed his second try of the game before a sublime disguised pass from Sheedy set Alapati Leiuia free to touch down with a parting gift for the 19,118 in attendance, following four successful years in Bristol.

However, a yellow card to Jack Bates for a high tackle on Jacques Vermeulen threatened to turn the game on it’s head as the Chiefs drew level at 28-28 thanks to quickfire tries from James Kenny and Olly Woodburn on the hour mark.

Yet despite their man disadvantage, the Bears kicked on impressively again and tries from Toby Fricker and Luke Morahan put the nail in the coffin for Exeter Chiefs play off hopes.

Dave Ewers’ try in overtime meant the visitors left Ashton Gate Stadium with a losing bonus point which means a play-off spot is still mathematically possible albeit highly unlikely.

Northampton Saints and Gloucester Rugby have a game in hand over Exeter Chiefs while Sale Sharks leapfrogged the Chiefs with a victory over the Wasps this evening.

A single win for any of Northampton, Gloucester or Sale in their final matches will confirm that the Chiefs’ slim hopes of a playoff spot are dashed for this season.

The Exeter Chief’s Director of Rugby Rob Baxter claimed areas need addressing in his team and felt his side should take the result as a lesson as they look to remain in the European spots. Baxter said:

“We’re not as good as we need to be.

“If we’d have been there or thereabouts at the end of the season it might’ve covered up a few things we actually need to deal with.

“Lessons like today should be hard-learnt, we should’ve been able to score points out there but it tells you where we are, our basic execution hasn’t been good enough.

“I’m obviously disappointed, but at the end of the day the truth is today showed us we’re well off where we can be and need to be.

“The top four has probably gone but we want to qualify for Europe so we need to make sure we’re there.”

Meanwhile following the victory, Pat Lam, the Director of Rugby for Bristol Bears, hailed the home crowd and the 11 players that are departing from the Bears. Lam said:

“That was a big one for the crowd for the guys going they are phenomenal.

“When I look at already 8,500 season tickets [sold for next year], despite having a big reason to not buy them, especially after the way our season’s gone but it just shows you the support we have.”

Bristol Bears have had a below-par season and sit in 10th however Lam was impressed with his team’s desire despite having nothing but pride to play for. He said:

“We talked about that, to go out and play with no fear. When you play a team that really need to win, that’s what makes it special. They had every reason to play so we had to be at our best and we were tonight and it was good to see.

“We went to 14-14 and we talked at half-time, we knew it’s going to go to the wire, it always does against these guys.

“I thought the yellow card on Jack Bates was a harsh call and we were against it all but the team just stuck in there.

“They did exactly what we said, just keep working, have no fear, keep playing and we did a great job.”

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