Exeter Chiefs Dominate Newcastle Red Bulls in 38-14 Victory to Secure Third Place
Exeter Chiefs surged back to third place in the Prem with a commanding 38-14 victory over bottom-of-the-table Newcastle Red Bulls at Kingston Park. This marks Exeter's second consecutive win since the league resumed following the Six Nations. The Chiefs showcased their attacking prowess, scoring six tries throughout the match. Notable performances included wingers Paul Brown-Bampoe and Campbell Ridl, who each scored two tries, alongside contributions from Olly Woodburn and Stephen Varney. Key highlights of the match: Brown-Bampoe opened the scoring in the corner from an attacking line-out. Ridl quickly followed, receiving a pass from fly-half Harvey Skinner for a straightforward try. A powerful maul allowed Brown-Bampoe to secure his second try, putting Exeter firmly in control. Woodburn scored the bonus-point try in the 26th minute as the Chiefs continued to dominate. Varney added the sixth try shortly after halftime, capitalizing on a sharp pass from Ross Vintcent. For Newcastle, it was another disappointing night, marking their 11th league loss out of 12. Their only highlights came from a brilliant solo effort by Christian Wade, who scored his first try for the club, and a late score from Connor Hancock. Despite a close loss to Northampton Saints just a week earlier, the Red Bulls struggled under the pressure exerted by Exeter. In his first home game as interim head coach, Stephen Jones faced a challenging task as the Red Bulls remained four points adrift of Harlequins. Exeter's victory not only lifted them above Leicester Tigers but also established an eight-point cushion over Bristol Bears, as they aim for a playoff spot for the first time since 2021.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-03-27