Exeter Chiefs qualify for last eight in Europe

Exeter Chiefs secured a place in the European Rugby Champions Cup quarter finals by beating the Ospreys 33-17 with a bonus point at Sandy Park Stadium.

The Ospreys started the match on top of the Pool but the loss means that they have been eliminated from the play offs.

Exeter will play fellow English side Wasps in the play off.

At Sandy Park, Exeter played like a team that believed they could pull off a shock, while Ospreys struggled throughout.

Wing James Short, who had a stunning match, and man-of-the-match New Zealand-born England No.8 Thomas Waldrom scored a brace of tries each, with Kai Horstmann also crossing.

The attacking bonus point, coupled with denying Ospreys a losing bonus, meant Exeter were now in contention to win the group.

In the end it came down to points difference and Exeter just had the edge on Bordeaux, earning themselves a trip to Wasps in the quarter-finals.

Waldrom was named European Rugby Champions Cup man of the match.

Final Score Exeter Chiefs 33 (14) Ospreys 17 (7)

Scorers

Exeter Chiefs
Tries – Horstmann, Waldrom 2, Short (2)
Pen –
Con – Steenson (3)
Drop –

Ospreys
Tries – Dirkson, Penalty
Pen – Biggar
Con – Biggar (2)
Drop –

Match Officials
Referee: Jerome Garces (France),
Assistant ref: Salam Attalah (France),
Assistant ref: Pierre Brousset (France),
TMO: Herve Dubes (France),
Citing Commissioner: John Cole (Ireland)

Teams

Exeter Chiefs: Phil Dollman; Olly Woodburn, Michele Campagnaro, Ian Whitten, James Short; Gareth Steenson, Dave Lewis; Alec Hepburn, Jack Yeandle (c), Alex Brown, Jonny Hill, Geoff Parling, Kai Horstmann, Don Armand, Tom Waldrom

Replacements: Elvis Taione, Ben Moon, Harry Williams, Ollie Atkins, Tom Johnson, Haydn Thomas, Will Hooley, Max Bodilly

Ospreys: Daniel Evans; Hanno Dirksen, Jonathan Spratt, Josh Matavesi, Eli Walker; Dan Biggar, Brendon Leonard; Paul James, Scott Baldwin, Dmitri Arhip, Lloyd Ashley, Alun-Wyn Jones (c), Sam Underhill, Justin Tipuric, James King

Replacements: Sam Parry, Nicky Smith, Aaron Jarvis, Rory Thornton, Dan Baker, Thomas Habberfield, Sam Davies , Owen Watkin