Exeter Braves

While we are all raving about the performances of the chiefs - the Braves (Exeter's A team) have shown the depth of quality at the club. On Monday they host Tigers A team in the semi of the A League having won the Southern Conferance.

Not only did they win the Southern conferance, but won it in style - winning all 6 matches they played.

Watched them v Harliquins a month or so away. They were very impressive

Yeah, they schooled Bath United at the rec earlier in the season. Mind you Bath United have been shocking for the last couple of years.

I quite enjoy going to the 'A' league games, but there seems to have been a lot less of them this year. Is this just for Bath, or a general thing?

Cumbrian, I think that a general thing, I know that some teams (ie Wasps) have been so hard hit with injuries that they've struggled to field a team on occasion. If the Braves beat Tiggers A, then the final should be at Sandy Park in May sometime

I think the A leagues were curtailed because of RWC. Normally there are home and away games against each team in the conference, this year they played each other only once.

Not sure about the priorities of these games - Exeter have 5 or 6 of the usual suspects starting or benched for Pirates and Albion today, and in the last couple of games we've borrowed players from Exeter Uni.

I'm planning on going - it may be the last chance to see Budgie, our favourite prop/flyhalf, in full flow at home.

Team's up:

15 Luke Arscott
14 Jack Arnott
13 Nic Sestaret
12 Sam Hill
11 Mark Foster
10 Myles Dorrian
9 Pat Phibbs (capt)
1 Chris Budgen
2 Simon Alcott
3 John Andress
4 Chris Bentley
5 Chad Slade
6 Dave Ewers
7 Ben White
8 James Phillips

16 Jon Vickers
17 Luke Cowan-Dickie
18 Lloyd Fairbrother
19 Aly Muldowney
20 Herbie Stupple
21 Junior Poluleuligaga
22 Henry Slade
23 Chris Crane

Strong mix of experience and youth. Likely last games for Pat Phibbs, Budgie, Bentos and Jon Adress before he departs for Wuss. Watch out for the youthful talents of Sam Hill and Dave Ewers

Blimey that's a good side. Be interesting to see what Tigers decide to put out. I'd expect the likes of Ford, Forsyth and Lewington to play with maybe Symons if he is back from injury (English youngster who played in NZ schools for a bit and was recomended by Mauger to Tigers, I haven't been impressed the twice I've seen him) in the backs. In the forwards Ben Pienaar, Stankovitch and Slater with a smattering of the younger players like Armes and Cain.

Good to see Henry Slade back from injury, and hopefully pushing for the England squad to JWC. It'll be a nice little cameo if he comes on against Ford.

No news on a Tigers team yet but there were some telling ommissions for the Tigers academy team that played at the weekend. Academy captain Jake Albion a ball carrying number 8 and top scoring wingers El Mahdi and Stephan MacAuley were not involved so they may well be getting a run out tonight. El Mahdi is lightening quick with a great step though at 18 he's very raw so I'd hope Tigers were going to give him a run out as we are short on pacey wings and generating some internally would be nice.

HT it is 17-14 to the Braves.

Tries from:

Exeter:
Jack Arnott (2)
Ben White

Leicester:
Penalty Try
Graham Kitchener

36-31 to the Braves with just a few minutes left

When and where is the final?

Not sure, Pete, will find out

Could be good for another mini meet if it's at The Stoop.

I think it might be next Monday or the one after?

Well done Braves.

Sounds like it was a cracking match - reading the report.

Ozzy3213 wrote:Could be good for another mini meet if it's at The Stoop.

Pete, no go, sadly - Quins finished 2nd in their league whereas Chiefs topped theirs, so home advantage goes to Exe for the final to be held next Monday at Sandy Park

http://www.leicestertigers.com/news/13817.php

Match report there.

Tigers team for anyone that was interested:

15 Niall Morris - recovering from injury against Falcons in LV Cup
14 George Catchpole - England under 18
13 Ed Rolston - part time academy/Loughborough Student
12 Andrew Symons - on trial following tip by Mauger, former Sarries academy
11 Alex Lewington - former England age grade played against Bath in LV Cup
10 George Ford
9 James Grindal
1 Logovi'i Mulipola
2 Jimmy Stevens - former England under 20 has been on loan at Notts
3 Ryan Bower - former England under 20 has been on loan at Notts
4 Calum Green - former England under 20 who suffered nasty injury, trying to win new contract
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Ben Pienaar (c) - A League captain for last few seasons, looked to be on verge of first team before nasty injury in training
7 Tom Armes - ball carrying 7 who is struggling to break into the first team
8 Ed Slater - in his preferred backrow, some suggestions he'll be the new Corry
Replacements
16 Harry Thacker - England under 18s, came off the bench against Quins in the LV Cup
17 Jonny Harris - fomer England under 20
18 Fraser Balmain - had been part of the exchange programme with Clermont
19 Joe Cain - young second row who played against Quins in the LV Cup
20 Richard de Carpentier - England Uni Captain last year, couple of appearences for Notts and some injuries
21 Micky Young
22 Javiah Pohe - England under 18 international IC
23 Stephen Macauley - regular try scorer for academy team

sounds like Kitchener had a good game

sounds like Kitchener had a good game

He's come on very well since the start of the season and is quickly looking to be an excellent signing. By the start of next season Parling's place in the team will be under threat for the first time since Big Ben Kay retired. Only a matter of time before England come calling, especially if Parling picks up an injury.

In the pack, the depth is starting to come along quite nicely. Even if Deacon retires, there is decent competition for most places and the ability to change the make-up of the forwards depending on the opposition, conditions, style needed.

In the backs, while it is a shame that 36 decided to move on, they look stronger next year over this.

Genuine cover at half back, Young/Harrison/Bowden/Ford, differing styles available at 12 and pace arriving on the wing. 13 and FB still worry me a little especially as Geordan is getting no younger.

Hopefully Morris and Tait can both get properly fit over the summer and push for that berth.

I thought that Kitchener would be replacing Skivs and we'd see a second row combo of Parling and Kitchener possibly...with Slater on the bench?

god, I forgot about Deacon!

Kitchener is a bigger lump than Parling (and Skivington) but tends to play a similar style. Cockers does like to have a grafter in the 2nd row boiler room.


Two potential line-ups:

Murphy, Thompstone, Manu, Allen, Benjamin, Flood, Youngs, Crane, Salvi, Croft, Parling, Deacon, Cole, Chuter, Ayerza


Tait, Hamilton, Smith, Bowden, Morris, Ford, Young, Waldrom, Woods (is Newby off?), Mafi, Kitchener, Slater, Castro, Youngs, Mulipola.

LondonTiger wrote:Kitchener is a bigger lump than Parling (and Skivington) but tends to play a similar style. Cockers does like to have a grafter in the 2nd row boiler room.


Two potential line-ups:

Murphy, Thompstone, Manu, Allen, Benjamin, Flood, Youngs, Crane, Salvi, Croft, Parling, Deacon, Cole, Chuter, Ayerza


Tait, Hamilton, Smith, Bowden, Morris, Ford, Young, Waldrom, Woods (is Newby off?), Mafi, Kitchener, Slater, Castro, Youngs, Mulipola.

Tigers are developing an impressive squad, all this without considering promising youngsters like Kieran Brookes and Andy Forysth. It must be pleasing for Tigers fans.

Potential third team/LV Cup team:

Stanko, Hawkins, Brookes (we could still put out Harris, Stevens, Bower who all have England under 20 caps)
Green (is he staying?), Price
Pienaar, de Carpienter, Newby (I think he is staying for 1 more year)
Harrison, Lynn (talented academy 10)
Forsyth, Symons
Catchpole, El Mahdi
Lewington

Tigers strength and depth is coming along nicely. Cockerill has done rather a good job building this squad up over time with cheap young acquisitions (Mafi, Slater, Allen, Mulipola) and is slowly bringing through some talented academy players (Lewington, Forsyth - the new Twelvetrees, Ford, Harrison etc). Things are coming along quite well, now we need to use this strength in depth to get amongst the European big boys and make an impact on the HEC next year!

What has happened to Brookes actually? He joined Tigers and then seems to have dropped off the radar a bit. Is he looming in the lower teams gaining experience? I've not heard his name for ages

I think he was injured at the start of the season

Got a nasty leg/knee break during the RWC period against Newcastle Falcons and is yet to return to action. He was involved in some promo work the other day so he can't be to far off a return but with the games that are left it will probably be next season.

good to know, thanks