Exeter into Champions Cup knockout stages after Wimbush thwarts Glasgow

Exeter squeezed past Glasgow to book their place in the knockout stages of the Champions Cup with a round to spare thanks to Zack Wimbush’s late try and a controversial disallowed score for the Warriors in the final moments.

Wimbush’s smart finish and Henry Slade’s nerveless conversion put the Chiefs, who had been outplayed by an impressive Glasgow side for large spells, ahead with three minutes remaining before the visitors thought they had won the match at the last. Euan Ferrie pounced on the loose ball at the base of an Exeter scrum near their line and dotted down but the referee, Pierre Brousset, ruled that he had released his bind early and ruled out the try.

Glasgow would have been worthy winners from their valiant performance but instead it is Exeter who march into the last 16 with a third win to date.

Exeter let a 26-0 lead slip against Northampton last time out and they began in a manner which suggested they had not shaken it from their system. In fairness to Glasgow, theirs was a razor sharp start with Josh McKay denied the opening try by the bounce of the ball while Matt Fagerson and Ally Miller both made eye-catching charges through the Chiefs defence.

Greg Fisilau was one of the Exeter youngsters name dropped by Steve Borthwick last week but he endured a difficult opening spell here and was sent to the sin-bin for his part in a head-on-head collision with the Glasgow fly-half Duncan Weir. With Weir off for a head injury assessment, the scrum-half George Horne kicked Glasgow ahead with a straightforward penalty.

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s first touch in any sort of space prompted a crackle of anticipation around the ground but Exeter were having difficulties with their lineout which denied them any chance to build their way back into the game and they were the architects of their own downfall for the opening try of the match.

Horne’s chip over the top was well executed in that he spotted the space in front of Ben Hammersley who was covering at full-back and the Exeter man made a royal mess of dealing with it, kneeing the bouncing ball into the arms of Kyle Rowe, who ran through unopposed. The conversion from Weir, now back on the field, gave Glasgow a deserved 10-0 lead.

If their lineout was wobbling, it was through the scrum that Exeter managed to find a way back into proceedings, however. A mighty shove near the Glasgow line panicked Weir into fumbling the ball and from the ensuing Exeter scrum, after a number of near misses, Jacques Vermeulen finally bludgeoned his way over from close range. Slade’s conversion ensured Exeter went into the half-time interval trailing by just three.

After a scrappy opening to the second half Glasgow scored a peach of try through their captain Sione Tuipulotu after a charge up the field by Scott Cummings and a final killer pass from the impressive McKay but again Exeter were able to respond with their power at close quarters – Dan Frost the scorer this time after the Chiefs battered away at the Glasgow line.

Slade’s missed conversion left Exeter five behind and though they thought they were level when Wimbush went over in the left corner, Brousset ruled that there had been a knock-on in the buildup. Wimbush did not have to wait long for his chance to shine, however, diving over with three minutes to go before Ferrie was denied at the death.