Esher full of seasonal cheer

Exeter reported that “With the “Big One” coming in Exeter’s trip to Leeds only a week away, it was imperative that the Chiefs showed a ruthless disregard for their 13th-placed opposition Esher today. Well this was a game in which badly thought judgement and words were to came back to haunt the promotion seeking Devon side.

The first chance of the day went to Exeter following an offside advantage by Esher and with complete distain to Esher that they choose to take the scrum and not the easy three points. Opting for the penalty scrum, Esher disrupted the Chiefs number 8 who gave possession back to Esher as he knocked on.

Further Exeter penalties and possession were further disrupted and one to note was Exeter kick into touch in the Esher 22, from the Chiefs lineout the magnificent combination of James Inglis and Stuart Walker using all their skills to steal the ball.

Exeter began to get on the end of some the referee’s judgment and having handled the ball in the ruck, but with Esher failing to find touch, Exe returned the ball giving Esher the lineout 30 metres from Exeter’s line. After a couple of big hits from Exeter, Esher opted for the cross-field kick, but unlike Gary’s earlier attempt, it was pin-perfect to see winger Douglas Flockhart go over and Neil Hallett to knock over the conversion to give Esher a 7-0 lead on 12 minutes.

Exeter went on the offensive from the restart but the sheer aggression of the Esher pack putting the Exeter catcher under pressure forced him to knock on. From the Esher attacking options massive pressure in defence from Exeter forced Esher to kick forward, returned by Exeter and put back yet again by Exeter. Esher were penalised for offside and Exeter took it quickly to make 20 metres and again Esher were penalised at the breakdown.

Esher reduced to 14 men when James Inglis was sent to the sin bin put Esher under further pressure and with Exeter coming hard at the visitors, the Esher defence was just of gigantic proportions and held them at bay until the 35th minute when following a period of maybe 20 phases the home rise finally went over through lock Chris Bentley, the conversion by Danny Gary put the score back to 7 all.

Playing from the restart with real width, Chiefs ran the ball back to gain a penalty on Esher’s 10-metre line. The touch kick putting the home side inside Esher’s 22 and with a man down injured, Esher were now under pressure but again did well to turn over possession at the breakdown, clearing to just outside their own 22. Further pressure resulted in an Exeter Opting for the scrum, Exeter were twice held up for a five-metre scrum and unable to breach the stretched but excellent Esher defence, Exe had to settle for parity at half time.

Esher kicked off long to get the second half underway and returned Gray’s clearance to give Exeter the lineout in their own 22. A high box kick from Exeter scum half Clive Stuart-Smith put Esher under pressure but they handled that pressure once again and retained possession to give it back after a fruitless kick through. Attacking again with intent, another unforced knock-on gave the ball back to Esher at the scrum. Esher attacked down the left side, conceding a scrum for a forward pass. Exeter were also attacking well but a foolish error on 45 minutes gave Esher a clear advantage, the ball getting to Scrum Half Robbie Shaw who launched a high kick towards the right hand corner, Esher took full advantage with winger Flockhart charging through to score his second, Hallett’s conversion just going wide.

With the score at Exeter 7 Esher 12 the home side made some changes in an attempt to quall the Esher enthusiasm.

Esher held out until the 62nd when further Exeter heavyweight pressure saw then level the scores. From and an Esher 22 drop-out which was charged down and the best Esher could do in scrambling the defence was to concede a lineout inside their own 22. Working hard from the lineout Exeter’s pack got to within a metre of Esher’s try-line only to be held up by the Sterling defence. Unfortunately for Esher they had already conceded a penalty. From the penalty a lineout and drive over put Exeter on equal terms with the try credited to Budgen, replacement fly half Gareth Steenson missing the conversion.

With the score at 12 all the Exeter faithful where getting on the backs of their beloved team as Esher failed to surrender and in fact it was Esher who so nearly took the spoils when from a five-metre attacking scrum, it all went wrong for them as Shaw threw a loose pass, Exeter kicked through and Esher’s Hallett chased back pursued by three Exeter chiefs bearing down on him, he slide picked up the ball and with the speed of the wind Esher reinforcements arrived and Esher cleared to touch.

In the dying seconds, Exeter were awarded a penalty deep in their own half and had no option but to kick to touch to have the lineout once again stolen by Esher.

This was massive for Esher who left Sandy Park with many disgruntled Exeter fans passing on not too many happy Christmas greetings. Too be fair many of the Home fans complemented Esher in this huge performance, which if the truth be known has been coming for many weeks now as the team try to prove the league position wrong.

To put this Draw into perspective, Esher are only the third team in two season to take more than one point away from Exeter, two of the other sides are Northampton and Leeds.

Esher now face a most critical few weeks, staring next week when the face Otley at The Pillar Data Arena. It begins a series of games that will almost certainly determine their fate for next season. All supporters are urged to come along and cheer the boys on against Otley. Kick off is at 3pm.

Esher – Hallett; Flockhart, Lowe (Clouston 40mins), Jewell, Lozides, Slemen, Shaw (Barnes 67); Millard, Goldsmith (Corrigan 58), Elosu Hannon 65, Inglis, Walker, Waterhouse (Stitcher 66mins), Tubasei (Gaynor 78), Renwick.

Scorers. Esher – Tries: Flockhart (2); Con: Hallett.