Down to the last eight hey! Some say 'it's not arriving but the journey that counts', I suspect few of the 8,000-plus at Sandy Park on Saturday will argue with that one. What a game and what a great achievement for the Chiefs.
It was doubly exciting for yours truly, who has personal memories of several feisty encounters with the Bayonne boys during my brief tenure as a Biarritz player in 2004. For many years Bayonne were the traditional big name in French rugby, and to put such a scoreline on them – in addition to keeping the tryline unbreached – is a major fillip for the Chiefs.
The French and particularly those residing in the Basque region are proud people. Bayonne had little other than pride at stake on Saturday, but they played with French aplomb, spirit and intent throughout. They were not going to make it easy for our lads who needed to be at their best to win this one. The prize of a home European quarter-final served as additional motivation to fans and players alike who enjoyed a good day at the office.
Missing some of their big-name stars, Bayonne were nonetheless bristling with talent, fielding a good side with five current internationals.
A dazzling Jack Nowell try and a brace of Henry Slade penalties in the first half gave us an 11-0 interval lead. The Chiefs were comfortable but not yet safe. Three tries later and the bonus win in the bag, the lads had done enough to book home turf advantage for the next round of the European Challenge Cup.
It was a good feeling going into the final 10 minutes, with the Chiefs able to cruise home to the whistle. That is until the stattos worked out we would be playing Cardiff if the score stayed as it was but we would have Newcastle if we scored two more tries. Attack, attack, attack was the message and attack we did, powering on to a magnificent 45-point haul that secured a home quarter-final in the European Challenge Cup against..... The Falcons. Let me say that again, a home European Challenge Cup quarter-final to be played at Sandy Park, Exeter, Devon! How good is that?
Our European journey is put on hold for awhile as the Chiefs' focus turns to defending the LV= Cup and a trip to the Principality to face the Dragons. It feels good to be defending cup holders, having secured our first major big-league silverware last term. A measure of just how far we've travelled since graduating to elite-level rugby is evidenced by the strength and depth of the Chiefs' squad. The LV= Cup provides an opportunity for our fringe and emerging players to show their qualities on the big stage. Rest assured, it will be a strong Chiefs team going to Wales on Saturday.
There was not such good news for my Cockles colleagues who bowed out of the Devon Senior Cup last week following a 24-16 semi-final defeat at Brixham. Good luck to the Fishermen in the final, but for the Mighty Muff it's time to focus exclusively on the league.
Yours truly will be in action on Saturday when in-form Bracknell come to the Imperial Ground. Make no mistake; Saturday's is a big game for both teams.
Fourth-placed Bracknell threw the National League Three South West championship wide open just two weeks ago when they beat top-of-the-table Redingensians Rams. It's all still to play for in this season's race for league honours.
Exmouth are well in the mix, currently sitting in second spot and with a trip to the Rams still to come at the business end of the season in April.
Home ground advantage means a lot to the Chiefs as the 8,000-plus crowd showed again last Saturday. Sandy Park is indeed turning into a fortress where it's a hard place for opponents to play. We're not going to get crowds of thousands flooding into the Imperial Ground to support Exmouth in National Three but it would be good if we could raise a few hundred Devon voices to get behind the Cockles for their big home games.
Saturday's is a big home game for the Mighty Muff and I look forward to having a pint with some of you after the match on Saturday, remember though it's a 2pm kick-off.
News now of two sporting legends giving a personal audience at Sandy Park on Thursday, February 26. Anfield and Danish midfield star Jan Molby joins Leicester, England and British Lion Ben Kay as the principle speakers for an all-star sportsman's dinner.
Yours truly has boyhood memories of riding my bike to swim in Jan Molby's pool when he lived close to us on the Wirral. I also faced Rugby World Cup-winner Kay when he started his career at Waterloo. I was the 17-year-old upstart in the New Brighton team that lost out in the national cup.
I'm looking forward to sharing this and a few more stories with Messrs Molby and Kay on February 26 and invite you to join us for what promises to be another great night at Sandy Park.
Finally, dear reader, I give advance notice of another great sporting challenge that will take place off the coast of Devon in September this year.
Graham Cridland, a renowned legal beagle with Ashfords, is an accomplished sea swimmer. Such is Graham's confidence in his aquatic abilities that he boasts he can swim two circumnavigations around Burgh Island before yours truly can manage one.
The gauntlet laid down, and one that I could not resist.
Arrangements for this major aquatic adventure are in train and details will be posted in this column in due course. In the interim, experts tell me that growing web feet is my best hope but I'm looking for a swimming coach to support me in this ocean adventure.
Enough of that diversion for now, with much rugby on the agenda this weekend as our journey continues.
Until next time, stay safe and enjoy your rugby.
