Clermont blow away Exeter Chiefs in five-try masterclass
By Louise Warr
Last Updated: 20/12/15 9:00pm
Clermont bounced back from last week's Exeter defeat with a comprehensive 42-10 victory over the Chiefs in France.
Rob Baxter's men stunned the two-time European finalists with a 31-14 victory at Sandy Park last weekend but the French giants showed their pedigree with a merciless performance at the Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin.
First half tries from David Strettle and Alexandre Lapandry put Clermont in a commanding position before further scores from Fritz Lee, Sebastien Vahaamahina and Jonathan Davies sealed the five points for the home side.
A Tom Johnson try and a penalty from Gareth Steenson got Exeter on the scoresheet in a game where Clermont showed their European class.
Exeter made a fast start winning countless penalties before Camille Lopez saw yellow for a dangerous tackle on Matt Jess and Steenson further punished Clermont by kicking the resulting penalty.
However the home side were to hit back with two penalties of their own through Morgan Parra and Scott Spedding.
Strettle crossed for the first try of the match on 11 minutes. The former England winger took advantage of a loose ball from Dom Armand on the edge of the 22, cutting inside the defence of James Short before racing away under the posts unopposed.
Parra extended his side's lead to 13 with another penalty, while Steenson was unable to do the same for Exeter with his attempt.
Last week's two-try hero Thomas Waldrom's indiscipline at the ruck earned the number 8 a spell in the sin-bin and Clermont made the extra man count from the resulting penalty.
It was quick thinking from scrum-half Parra that sparked the move from the back of the ruck when he switched play down the short side which sent Lapandry over in the corner.
Steenson continued his topsy-turvy game with the boot missing a further penalty in the dying seconds of the half, sending Clermont into the break with a comfortable 21-3 cushion.
Clermont continued in the same vein with their third try coming shortly after half-time. On-form winger Strettle pinned the Chiefs back in the corner with a ferocious chase of his own kick before Fritz Lee dotted down from the subsequent lineout drive.
The bonus point was secured just moments later when a great break by Davies took Clermont deep into the opposition 22 before the move was rounded off by Vahaamahina, who used his giant frame to barge over the line.
Davies marked his return to the side after injury with a try on 63 minutes when he was the beneficiary of a Lopez cross-field kick.
Clermont were reduced to 13-men in the final 10 minutes when both Vito Kolelishvili and Clement Ric were sent to the sin bin for collapsing drives from close range line-outs.
Exeter made sure that their travelling fans were rewarded with a moment to celebrate on 73 minutes when Johnson capitalised on the numerical advantage at the maul ending a sobering day at the office for the Chiefs.
