mens
Gallagher-Prime Minister
A hat-trick of Newcastle wing Christian Wade wasn’t enough to prevent Exeter claiming Gallagher Prem’s first win of the season as they overturned the game at Sandy Park 34-28.
The leadership often changed hands and only in the dying stages Bosses managed to record a victory.
Max Hicks scored Newcastle’s second try and Zack Henry converted all four to secure two valuable bonus points.
Ross Vintcent scored two tries for Exeter with a foul, while Sam Harris, Henry Slade and Bachuki Tchumbadze got the others, with Slade converting three and kicking a penalty.
It took just 40 seconds for Exeter to open the scoring when Vintcent hit a clearance to collect and score.
Three minutes later Newcastle were level when a long pass from the alert Simon Benitez Cruz allowed Wade to make an easy run.
The frenetic opening continued as a well-timed pass from Slade sent Vincent galloping 20 meters down the right flank to score his second try before deft handling from the visitors allowed Hicks to tap in and Henry’s conversion put them in front for the first time.
A fifth try arrived before the end of the first quarter, with Slade running through a leaky defense for a solo score, but Exeter then suffered a blow when flanker Ethan Roots was booked for a hands-off tackle.
Newcastle also suffered a setback when their full-back Harrison Obatoyinbo went off on HIA, to be replaced by Jake Dalziel, who became the club’s youngest ever debutant in the league at just 18 years and 54 days.
Dalziel almost got off to a dream start when his well-judged cross picked out Werner Kok in acres of space, but a terrible dive on the wing prevented a sure result.
However, Red Bulls they were able to take advantage of Roots’ absence when a break from Sammy Arnold handed Wade his second.
Roots came back from the basket but Newcastle still led 21-19 at the end of a pulsating first half.
Four minutes after the restart the home side were back in front when a period of pressure was rewarded with a bonus point try from Harris, on his debut for Prem.
However, a handling error by Slade gave Wade the opportunity to complete his hat-trick, with a punt and chase that secured the touchdown.
Exeter suffered a further blow when Immanuel Feyi-Waboso went off with a leg problem before the Red Bulls introduced winger Samson Adeyimi for his debut.
The hosts also made changes bringing on back-rowers Tom Hooper and Kane James in a bid to turn their fortunes around, and it paid off when a Slade penalty gave them a one-point lead before Tchumbadze crashed over to seal the win, while Newcastle flop Adam Brocklebank sin-binned.