Second-half comeback for Chiefs in brutal 20-19 match against Sale Sharks

Exeter Chiefs scraped a one-point victory on Saturday (12 June) in a stunning comeback after a brutal first half against Sale Sharks.

The first half

Sale's Byron McGuigan scored a try in the first two minutes of play, setting the stage for a brutal and lightning-fast first half for the Sharks.

Sale's relentless pace saw them hound the Chiefs back to their five-metre line again and again, until they scored another try after 20 minutes.

The sheer aggressive form of the Sharks put Exeter on the back foot, leaving them stunned and prone to giving away penalties.

Jannes Kirsten left the field soon after with an injury, and then Dave Ewers was given a yellow card for a high tackle.

Sale's defence was a complete brick wall throughout the first half, and Exeter could only score a penalty - leaving the score at 14-3 at half time.

The second half

With a try from Sale winger Arron Reed after catching a well-placed grubber kick, it looked as if it were all over for the Chiefs.

Things seemed to go from bad to worse, as Sam Skinner was shown a red card for a high tackle on Sharks' scrum half Faf De Klerk.

The comeback

Most teams would be utterly deflated at this point with just 14 men left on the field, losing 19-3, and half an hour still to go on the clock.

But Exeter are no ordinary team.

The red card completely galvanised the players, and they showed a sudden rise in intensity and in blitzkrieg fashion Cowan-Dickie scored the Chiefs' first try of the match with a tap-and-go penalty at the five-metre line.

Sale's Ben Curry then got a yellow card - and it was Sale who seemed a little deflated after substitution Stu Townsend sneaked the ball over the line from the back of a ruck.

Suddenly, as if by magic, the Chiefs were back in the game with the scoreboard reading 19-17 at 66 minutes.

A penalty just five minutes later to Exeter opened up the Chiefs' first glimpse at victory - but it would have to be a huge kick at goal from beyond 40 metres.

Joe Simmonds didn't even break a sweat, however, as he launched the ball down the field and through the posts to give Exeter the lead.

With the final whistle, the Chiefs secured a one-point victory of 20-19 - and won themselves the chance to play at Sandy Park next weekend.

What's next?

The Chiefs will face Sale again this Saturday 19 June at 4.30pm at home in the semi-finals.

The match will be hard-fought, and Director of Rugby Rob Baxter wants the Chiefs to play as they did in the comebacks of both of its previous matches - but also gave a warning.

He told Chiefs media: "If we don't want to turn up from minute one next week, the season is gone - and I genuinely do think that will change us and give us a real direction and purpose.

"Once we've got a real direction and purpose, we look a very, very good team.

"It is a semi-final now - an all-or-nothing game."

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