Thomas Waldrom takes off to score his 2nd try. Photo: Steve Bond/Pinnacle @ppauk

Wasps 25 Exeter Chiefs 24

In 1956 at Aintree it was Devon Loch who seemed destined for Grand National glory only to crash when in sight of the finish line.

Fifty years later, ironically on the same day as the world’s most famous horse race, it was Rob Baxter’s Exeter Chiefs side who slipped in the final furlong, losing their first-ever European Champions Cup quarter-final at the hands of rivals Wasps.

As the stadium clock clicked it’s way into the final second of 80 pulsating minutes, it was home full-back Charles Piutau who powered his way over the whitewash to deliver a telling blow on the ambitious Westcountry outfit.

Having fought their way back into contention with a late rally, it was Wasps fly-half Jimmy Gopperth who stepped up to land a telling conversion from wide on the right touchline to send his team through to the last four.

Scriptwriters could not have penned a worse way for the Chiefs to have suffered Euro heartbreak, such was the desire, commitment and all-round effort they had produced in a valiantly display at the Ricoh Arena.

Thomas Waldrom, on his 50th appearance for the club, took his try tally to a staggering 36 in less than two years at Sandy Park, while replacement Harry Williams also found his way over the line as it seemed the Chiefs – whose remaining points came courtesy of Gareth Steenson – seemed destined to advance into the last four.

Wasps, however, had other ideas and with Piutau claiming two tries of his own, alongside another from winger Frank Halai, it was the former champions who were left buzzing come the final whistle.

Having put Premiership matters to bed for the week, the sole focus for the Chiefs was that of creating yet more history in the ever-increasing chapters of the Devon club.

Buoyed by their half century of points against in-form Worcester Warriors last time out, Baxter made three changes in personnel for this latest assignment. Mitch Lees and Geoff Parling were both recalled in the Exeter engine room, while behind Australian international Lachie Turner was handed his first-ever European start.

Meanwhile, Wasps – who came into the game having won 10 of their 11 games – were also at full-strength, bringing into their side Charles Piutau, Dan Robson, Carlo Festuccia, Kearnan Myall and skipper James Haskell.

With confidence running high in both camps, it was little surprise that the game started at break-neck speed. Wasps provided the early impetus, playing almost two and a half minutes in attack, before a dropped pass in midfield allowed the Chiefs to gain some respite.

Thankfully, the visitors repelled the threat, creating a counter of their own which went down field, but also proved pointless in the long run.

The deadlock, however, was finally broken on seven minutes when Gopperth landed a lengthy penalty after Exeter prop Ben Moon had been adjudged by French referee Romain Poite to have dropped a scrum which, initially, had been shunted forward by the Chiefs.

Baxter’s side – who had won 41-27 at the same venue back in December – looked to respond immediately as Steenson’s clever break through the middle released Jack Nowell wide on the right, but as the Cornishman tore into the Wasps 22 at pace, he was deemed to have held on and the chance was lost.

Wasps made the most of the let off and doubled their tally on 17 minutes through Gopperth when Waldrom was singled out by Poite for flopping over at a ruck inside his own 22.
Slowly, though, the Chiefs were beginning to find their own attacking rhythm and sounded their intent off one particularly line out that saw Waldrom initially trundle the ball up, before Lees propelled himself towards the whitewash at a rate of knots.

Again, Wasps were able to quell the Exeter swell, this time holding up the imposing Australian, even though his team-mates did their best to set up yet another attacking platform just yards from the home line.

The Chiefs, however, had the bit between their teeth and in a subsequent raid, they won themselves a penalty which Steenson duly dispatched to the right corner. Then, using the same tactic which had served them so well back in December, they collected the set-piece, creating the opportunity for Waldrom to plough over for his 35th try in 50 Exeter appearances.

Steenson added the conversion to that score and then repeated the feat just before the interval as Waldrom steamed over the whitewash for a second time. The England international this time intercepting a pass from Bradley Davies before driving over the line.

Poite was initially unsure of the grounding, referring the matter to the ‘Man in the Van’, but the inevitable soon became reality and the score was duly awarded to cap a decent first 40 minutes for the Chiefs.

Half time: Wasps 6 Exeter Chiefs 14

Photo: Steve Bond/Pinnacle