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Date : 24/03/2007 : Venue : Sandy Park, Exeter
Kick off = 15:00 pm
Exeter 19 Pertemps Bees 12 [Cup ½ Final]
Match Report
Exeter 19 Pertemps Bees 12
Pertemps Bees coach Steve Williams had mixed emotions at
the end of this compelling EDF Energy National Trophy semi-final at Sandy Park.
The former Wales lock was full of pride for his players for a battling display
in adversity against full-time opponents but frustrated that a poor refereeing
display from Nick Williams denied his side the chance to reach their first Twickenham
final.
Somerset official Williams had a major say in the outcome after he sin-binned
two Bees player in quick succession. Akapusi Qera went first just before half
time for killing the ball and he had no sooner returned to the pitch than fly-half
Jon Higgins was yellow-carded for a questionable professional foul.
Higgins was binned for preventing Exeter taking a quick tapped penalty, an offence
which Exeter committed on several occasions without similar punishment.
"I don't often complain about referees but I thought the sin-binning of
Jon Higgins was a shocking decision," Williams said.
Exeter scored 13 of their points while the Bees were down to 14 men, including
a try from number eight Richard Baxter with the last play of the first half.
The referee appeared uncertain whether baxter had grounded the ball even though
he was only yards away and sought confirmation from a touch judge who was almost
20 yards away from the action.
Despite those frustrations the Bees can take consolation from playing most of
the constructive rugby against an Exeter side who opted for a predictable pick-and-drive
game which they hoped would batter the visitors into submission.
It did not because Wales Under-20 number eight Matt Larsen had a tremendous
game on his full debut for the Bees, Matt Long and Tom Court gave Exeter a torrid
time in the scrums and Alex Davidson, Will Matthews and Mark Gabey disrupted
their line-out.
The Bees were handicapped by losing centre Dave Knight with a hamstring injury
in the warm-up which forced Tristan Davies, who was only 50 per cent fit because
of a similar problem, to start the game.
Davies lasted only 36 minutes but caused sufficient uption to Exeter in that
time to justify the decision.
"Tristan wasn't fit enough to play but we were down to the bare bones squad
of 22 again and, fair-dos to him, he stuck his hand up and got on with it,"
Williams said.
"I'm disappointed with the result but very proud of the players. They are
very disappointed but I've told them that they shouldn't let their heads drop
because they played all the rugby against a side that operates on a different
level to us.
"When you see the facilities that Exeter have got here you can see that
this league has moved on. That is something that we have to aspire to in our
club.
"We are no longer the big payers in this league but we do have quality
players in our squad as they showed today."
The Bees' points came in a three minutes period as Matt Nuthall intercepted
in his own 22 when Exeter appeared to have worked an overlap and he ran the
length of the pitch for an opportunist try.
Exeter twice appeared to have Nuthall covered but the full-back wrong-footed
their defence with clever changes of pace.
Higgins landed the conversion from touch and the Bees struck again with a superb
swift attack from a line-out. Davies broke two tackles, Higgins arrived in support
and winger Kyle Palm finished the move.
Baxter's try rewarded Exeter for a sustained period of pressure though they
required the Bees to be down to 14 men before they breached a tight defence.
Tony Yapp added the conversion and then kicked four second half penalties to
take Exeter though to a Twickenham meeting with South West rivals Cornish Pirates.
There were no more points for the Bees but plenty of enterprising rugby to keep
Exeter on their toes right until the final whistle.
LARSEN TO START IN SEMI
(March 23 2007)
Wales Under-20 back-row forward Matt Larsen will make his first start for Pertemps
Bees in their EDF Energy National Trophy semi-final against Exeter Chiefs at
Sandy Park (3pm).
Larsen, a recent recruit from Cardiff Blues, has made only a couple of appearances
as a replacement since he joined Pertemps Bees in January because of international
commitments and his studies at Leicester University.
But he is available this weekend and he has been named at number eight in a
rejigged back-row alongside Will Matthews and Akapusi Qera.
Qera, a Fiji international, returns to the side having missed last week's National
One win over London Welsh because of a rib injury.
Mark Gabey will captain Pertemps Bees against his former club and partner Alex
Davidson in the second row because Mark Cornwell has been left out because of
personal problems.
Ireland Under-21 flanker Dan Tuohy returns to the squad for the first time in
two months having recovered from a knee injury. Tuohy has been named as a replacement
along with former Wales Under-21 centre Tristan Davies.
But Davies will have a final fitness test tomorrow afternoon to determine whether
he has fully recovered from a hamstring injury which has kept him sidelined
for three weeks.
If Davies fails his fitness test, flanker Tom Rawlins will take his place as
a replacement.
Pertemps Bees: 15 Matt Nuthall; 14 Reece Spee, 13 Adam Billig, 12 Dave Knight, 11 Kyle Palm; 10 Jon Higgins, 9 Rod Petty; 1 Matt Long, 2 Matt Miles, 3 Tom Court, 4 Mark Gabey (captain), 5 Alex Davidson, 6 Will Matthews, 7 Akapusi Qera, 8 Matthew Larsen. Replacements: 16 Dan Tuohy, 17 Emyr Lewis, 18 Casey Dunning, 19 Leo Halavatau, 20 Tristan Davies/Tom Rawlins, 21 Simon Martin, Mike Baxter.
| Team
15 Matt Nuthall 1 Matt Long
|
Replacements
16 Dan Tuohy |
 |
Match PictureS