Exeter Chiefs scrum-half and BBC Devon columnist

Leeds threw everything they had at us, played some powerful rugby and managed to sneak in front and hold on.

I would like to say I spend it in the North Pole helping out all of my brother elves with the wrapping but sadly I will not be joining them this year.

Christmas Day luckily falls on Thursday, our day off, so there will be a chance to put the feet up and sing some carols.

On Christmas Eve the lads will be putting the mandatory mince pie, cookies and milk out for Santa not forgetting a highly nutritious carrot for Rudolph as he will have quite few miles to cover.

In the week building up to the Leeds game there was a real air of anticipation. There was a lot of hype but, as a squad, we were just concentrating firmly on the rugby like every other week.

Performance-wise we were right where we needed to be and put Leeds under immense pressure. We let a few scoring opportunities slip by which was disappointing but we felt in total control and deserved our lead.

The changing room was a desolate place knowing that the result had slipped from our grasp Clive Stuart-Smith

However Leeds threw everything they had at us, played some powerful rugby and managed to sneak in front and hold on.

It shows that in the important games it can come down to just one moment. Unfortunately, we were on the receiving end and it is a bitter pill to swallow. The changing room was a desolate place knowing that the result had slipped from our grasp.

The beauty of sport is that we have another huge game this weekend and there is no time to dwell on last weekend.

Pirates are a tough, physical side but also have the ability to play some attractive rugby and score from anywhere.

They will be fancying their chances after a resounding win against Coventry on Sunday.

I did have a rather vivid dream last night. I was on a Christmas version of Deal or No Deal.

Clive Stuart-Smith - Exeter Chiefs' very own Christmas Elf

I was down to the last two boxes. The tension was unbearable.

In one box was one of the finest pigs in blankets ever made - a delicious, warm, pork and apple sausage wrapped in beautifully cooked crispy bacon.

In the other was a real life piglet being kept warm by a muddy cotton blanket.

Whichever box I decided on I would have to eat the contents.

Amazingly, I awoke just before I was forced to choose between the two. I have not been back to sleep for three days.

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