Exeter Chiefs Face Uphill Battle After Crushing Defeat to Bath in Premiership Cup Final

Exeter Chiefs Urged to Regroup After Heavy Defeat

Joe Hawkins has called on Exeter Chiefs to quickly regain their fighting spirit following a devastating second-half collapse against Bath in the Premiership Cup final. The Chiefs, currently second from the bottom in the Premiership, saw their hopes of silverware this season dashed at Sandy Park on Sunday. Bath ran in five unanswered tries after the interval, securing a commanding 48-14 victory.

A Tough Second Half

Exeter had matched Bath in the first half, despite having a try by Stu Townsend disallowed after a video replay. However, a second disallowed try early in the second half proved to be a critical turning point. Wing Josh Hodge's foot was adjudged to have crossed the touchline during a move that led to Paul Brown-Bampoe scoring in the corner. Had the try stood, Exeter would have narrowed the deficit to a single score, but they never recovered from the setback.

Looking Ahead

Hawkins emphasized the need for the team to reflect on their performance and rediscover the mindset of putting their bodies on the line for the team. "We've got to take a look at ourselves – that mindset of going out there and putting our bodies on the line for the team," he told BBC Radio Devon. "When you're losing regularly you get stuck in a rut and you need that turning point to come out the other side."

The Chiefs return to league action this weekend with a trip to second-placed Bristol Bears. Hawkins stressed the importance of focusing on the Premiership and working hard to secure some wins. "The Prem's coming back now, so we've got to get our heads down, work hard, mount some wins, try to climb the table and, little by little, put some building blocks together," he said.

Bath's Dominance

Bath's ability to play in the right areas of the pitch and capitalize on Exeter's mistakes was key to their victory. Hodge admitted that the Chiefs made critical errors, particularly in running towards the touchline. "It's fine margins but you should never run towards the touchline – the touchline never misses a tackle," he said.

Moving Forward

Despite the heavy defeat, the Chiefs cannot afford to dwell on the loss. They must now focus on their upcoming Premiership fixtures and aim to turn their season around. "We can't dwell on it, we have to focus on the Prem and get some points on the board," Hodge added.