Explosive Simmonds closes on try record
SAM Simmonds completed a remarkable week by scoring two tries as Worcester were blown away at a windswept Sandy Park.
New Lion Simmonds celebrated in style as his efforts enabled him to equal the Premiership record for tries in a season by a forward of 16.
Simmonds said: “I love scoring tries and I’ve got four regular games to go to try and score the two tries to break the Premiership record for any player, back or forward.”
That’s currently 17 and shared by Christian Wade (Wasps 2016-17) and Dominic Chapman (Richmond 1997-98).
Simmonds added: “It helps when players like Dave Ewers and Franny (Tomas Francis) keep forcing me over.
“It was a tough first half in those conditions but it was about staying in the game so we were happy to go in at half-time only two points down.”
Worcester were certainly combative in the first half with impressive performances from Francois Venter and Jamie Shillcock but they lacked the accuracy to make their territorial dominance count with some ill-directed kicking.
Knowing that they just had to contain their opponents, Exeter slowed the game down at every opportunity and took the two first-half chances that came their way before demonstrating their professionalism in a one-sided second half.
Exeter’s forwards coach, Rob Hunter, said: “With 45 miles per hour winds and rain forecast we would have taken a bonus-point victory as it is important that we still control our own destiny.
“We were pretty calm at half-time as we knew we had to keep it simple and keep our discipline for if we got close to their line we knew the scores would come.”
The only blot on Exeter’s day was a further injury to Jack Nowell, who limped off midway through the second half.
Hunter said: “I’m not sure yet what the problem is but Jack has had a horrible run of injuries with a number of knock-backs in terms of rehab but he’s a very professional guy so hopefully he will work through it.”
Worcester took an early lead with a long-range penalty from Shillcock before the full-back played a leading part in his side’s only try.
His speculative up and under caused problems and when Stuart Hogg was caught in possession, Worcester took advantage by moving the ball wide for Venter to dummy his over.
It was all Warriors in the first quarter but with their first excursion into opposition territory, Exeter came onto the scoreboard.
An ill-judged chip through from Venter was knocked down by Henry
Slade, who collected before kicking ahead and winning the 55 metre race to touchdown.
A penalty from Joe Simmonds was the only other score of the first half to leave Chiefs trailing 10-8 at the interval.
That lead was never going to be enough as
Exeter took full control with first Ewers and then Simmonds crashing over from close range as Worcester couldn’t stem the tide.
Exeter then lost Nowell before Worcester’s Sam Lewis was yellow carded for persistent team infringements which allowed Simmonds to score a second.
Worcester were now in freefall with GJ Van Velze, sin-binned for kicking the ball away within three minutes of coming onto the field so Exeter were able to add late tries from Stu Townsend and Jacques Vermeulen.