Having lost by two points to Leicester Tigers at the Arms Park in their first fixture under new head coach John Mulvihill, the Blues conceded five tries in a 38-10 defeat at Sandy Park. The Blues open their season at the home against reigning Guinness PRO14 and Champions Cup champions Leinster in two weeks time.
Josh Turnbull sent his centre Steve Shingler racing the length of the home 22 to score the opening try of the game after 11 minutes, but that was as good as it got for the visitors. As soon as the Chiefs got to grips with the Blues attack, they grew into the game and took firm control.
Matt Kvesic dominated the breakdown and the only further points the Blues could muster after their early try was a second half penalty from Jarrod Evans. The home side levelled with a driving line-out try from England No 8 Sam Simmonds and Gareth Steenson converted and added a penalty.
Then a penalty try on the stroke of half-time tipped the balance completely in favour of the 2017 English champions. Second half tries from Kvesic. Luke Cowan-Dicke and a 50 metre interception score from centre Ian Whitton rounded off a convincing victory for the home side.
Scorers: Chiefs:Â Tries: Simmonds (20), Pen Try (40), Kvesic (60), Cowan-Dickie (65), Whitton (72); Cons: Steenson (21, 61, 66, 73), Pen: Steenson (27); Blues: Tries: Shingler (11); Cons: Evans (12)
Exeter Chiefs: Phil Dollman; Tom O’Flaherty, Ian Whitten, Ollie Devoto (Carl Morgan 71), Olly Woodburn (Barry Karea 66); Gareth Steenson, Nic White (Sam Maunder 73); Greg Holmes (Alec Hepburn 41), Jack Yeandle (captain, Luke Cowan-Dickie 50), Harry Williams (Tomas Francis 50), Ollie Atkins, Sam Skinner (Cory Teague 78), Don Armand (Sean Lonsdale 38), Matt Kvesic (Paul Davies 73), Sam Simmonds (Glyn Elworthy 66)
Cardiff Blues: Matthew Morgan (Jason Harries 61); Aled Summerhill (Tom Williams 61), Garyn Smith (Harri Millard 61), Steve Shingler (Willis Halaholo 30), Owen Lane (Tom James 61); Jarrod Evans (Shingler , Lloyd Williams (Lewis Jones 61); Rhys Gill (Corey Domachowski 50), Kirby Myhill (Ethan Lewis 41), Dmitri Arhip (Dillon Lewis 41), George Earle (Jim Botham 50), Rory Thornton (James Down 65), Josh Turnbull, Olly Robinson (captain, Alun Lawrence 56), Seb Davies
Referee: Tom Foley (RFU)
Â
