Cheetahs go down fighting to Exeter Chiefs in Challenge Cup opener

A six-try performance from Chiefs and a standout player of the match individual showing from Harvey Skinner put the Exeter men firmly on top of their South African opposition.

On his European competition debut, Len Ikitau scored his first Chiefs try within five minutes. A textbook steal of an opposition lineout from the 6'9 figure of Andrea Zambonin put Chiefs on the front foot in Cheetahs' 22.

A well-timed ball from Charlie Chapman put Harvey Skinner into an overlap within metres of the line. The fly-half spun a pass out to Ikitau, the Wallabies centre easily finishing the score. Henry Slade stepped up to the tee to slot the conversion.

Exeter returned to their old faithful, the driving maul from close range for their second try. Ethan Roots took the throw cleanly in the air, adding his prominent weight to the drive as back-row partner Greg Fisilau took control of the ball at the rear.

A first stoppage held up momentum momentarily before a second surge got Fisilau over the line. Slade took a clean strike at the sticks for the extra two points.

Cheetahs took the restart at pace, working ball out to Michael Annies to overpower Immanuel Feyi-Waboso in a one-on-one on the wing to run in the try. Fly-half Jaco van der Valt secured the conversion to complete the score.

Exeter scored their on the 30 minute mark. Skinner's delayed pass on the edge of the 22 had launched the move, and he eventually dotted down to the right of the posts. His pass had released a charging Roots, who brought Jack Yeandle and Zambonin into the move before Skinner picked up the ball at his bootstraps to score. Slade's conversion broke the 20-point barrier for the Exeter men.

The pack had the bonus point wrapped when, at another driving maul in close confines of the line, they peeled off in pods for the recycle carries. The newly crowned Manu Samoa man, Scott Sio, carried over for the try before Slade took his fourth conversion.

The England centre ensured there was applause for the back-line before the whistle blew, running onto a perfectly-weighted chip to the wing from Skinner to score Chiefs' fifth of the evening.

The visitors took the first points of the second half, Munier Hartzenberg thumping over from close range after a frantic period of play deep into Chiefs territory. Van der Valt's conversion attempt pulled just wide of the left upright.

Exeter had to bide their time to add to their lead, playing to 57 minutes before Feyi-Waboso scored. Slade and Woodburn, the wily veterans, linked up in the five-metre channel with a back-handed offloaded smuggling ball to the winger. With a canter-step, Feyi-Waboso snuck free of his remaining defender, crossing for Chiefs' sixth and final try, the last score of the match. 

The Cheetahs host Ulster in Round 2 of the Challenge Cup in Bloemfontein on 11 January. 

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