Exeter Chiefs 56pts Cornish Pirates 3pts

The Pirates had lost 58-3 to their Premiership opponents in last year's friendly encounter played at the Mennaye Field, so it was perhaps no major surprise that Exeter would all but repeat that performance with the benefit of now playing on their home patch.

Four tries in each half, and all converted, confirmed the Devon side's level of dominance, but, as they had 12 months earlier, the Pirates will surely have learnt from the exercise.

Conditions were humid and sunny at Sandy Park and the Chiefs were quickly on the front foot through the running of their England flanker, Tom Johnson.

As for the Pirates there was a bonus early on in that their line-out functioned well with hooker Rob Elloway finding his jumpers.

Exeter, however, put extra pressure on their visitors, with giant Fijian centre Sireli Naqelevuki showing his power, plus also frustration when a scoring chance on the left was fluffed. Never mind, holding acquired territorial advantage the first try came in the eighth minute when wing Josh Tatupu crossed for an opening score that was converted by fly-half Ignacio Mieres.

Seven-nil soon became 14-0, Exeter securing their second try following a half break made by skipper Jason Shoemark who slipped the ball to his centre partner Naqelevuki. Lending support again was Tatupu, and although tap tackled to ground he rolled to make the line in one movement for Mieres to again add the extras.

With less that a quarter of the game gone Exeter extended their lead still further when scrum-half Will Chudley scrabbled his way over for another converted score. Also, to add to their woes, the Pirates then lost the services of injured prop Alan Paver, who was replaced by Ben Prescott.

It was hoped that the Cornish side would have it in them to respond for a spell, and to their credit they did. Wing Grant Pointer tested the home defence on the right, and a kick and chase by fly-half Kieran Hallett showed enterprise. Former Chiefs centre Junior Fatialofa also provided some midfield punch and when Exeter were penalised at the breakdown Hallett stepped up to deliver three points with a cleanly struck penalty from 30 metres out.

The score for the Pirates was the least they deserved, as they had enjoyed a sound 20 minutes spell, but the Chiefs would have the last say of the half when full-back Luke Arscott had the confidence to take on the Pirates and burst 45 metres to set Chudley up for his second converted score that made it 28-3 at the break.

Both sides introduced replacements for the start of the second period and for Exeter centre Sam Hill, who is dual-registered with the Pirates, went close to scoring. The England under 20s star was held just short of the line, but it mattered not as the ball was quickly moved further to the right for replacement flanker Ben White to apply the pressure for a try converted by replacement fly-half Myles Dorrian, who had a brief loan spell at the Mennaye Field last season.

When the Pirates spilled the ball soon after the restart they were in trouble once more when a clever pass by Dorrian set No. 8 Kai Horstmann up for yet another converted try.

Further replacements were made as the Pirates strived hard to stem the flow. Scrum-half Gavin Cattle worked the touchline and the player he replaced, Tom Kessell, now playing on the wing, was unlucky not to have created a score on the right.

The next points, however, would again go to Exeter, with what was would prove to be the try of the match, scored by replacement full-back Jack Nowell. The talented youngster, whose rugby development started in the Pirates youth section, and who is another player dual-registered with the club, ran half the length of the field in mesmeric style, his scintillating run ending at the posts for Dorrian to convert with ease.

The Chiefs were in no mood to take their foot off the pedal, and following impressive lock Ali Muldowney's rampaging run, wing Mark Foster's converted try took them past the 50 points mark.

There was some steel shown by the Pirates near the end through the tackling of replacement centre Tom Riley, but it was also matched by Exeter who showed total determination to keep their line intact and deny Kessell and then centre Alex Cheesman chances to score.

At the end of the game Cornish Pirates head coach Ian Davies, said:
"This was always going to be tough as the Chiefs are a class outfit who also have strength in depth.

"Obviously we can learn from a game such as this as it inevitably highlighted areas that we need to work on, as we now look forward to Newport at home on Saturday and then Jersey away in our Championship opener."

Exeter Chiefs:    L. Arscott (J. Nowell 57), M. Foster, S. Naqelevuki (N. Sestaret h/t), J. Shoemark (capt, S. Hill h/t), J. Tatupu (J. Arnott 57), I. Mieres (M. Dorrian h/t), W. Chudley (J. Poluleuligaga 49), K. Horstmann (J. Blanchet 73), T. Johnson (B. White (h/t), J. Phillips (D. Ewers 54), A. Muldowney (W. Carrick-Smith 69), D. Welch, C. Mitchell (C. Budgen 57), S. Alcott (J. Yeandle 57). B. Sturgess (C. Rimmer 49).

Cornish Pirates:    M. Evans (K. Hallett 49), G. Pointer (T. Kessell 49), A. Cheesman (R. Elloway 79), J. Fatialofa (T. Riley h/t), T. Bedford, K. Hallett (A. Penberthy h/t), T. Kessell (G. Cattle h/t), B. Maidment (D.Barry 49), P. Burgess, K. Marriott (capt), G. Johnson (B. Maidment 67), D. Lyons, A. Paver (B. Prescott 20, P. Andrew 75), R. Elloway (D. Semmens 49), P. Andrew (R. Storer 49).

Scorers:-
Exeter Chiefs - tries: Tatupu (2), Chudley (2), White, Hortsmann, Nowell, Foster; cons: Mieres (4), Dorrian (4).

Cornish Pirates:   pen: Hallett.

Referee:   David Rose (RFU)

Attendance:   4,127