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Clive Stuart-Smith column

Exeter Chiefs scrum-half and BBC Devon columnist

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Stuart-Smith looks ahead to Moseley

What a weekend of rugby. Going into the game against Nottingham, we were aware of the Leeds result the day before. But our mindset remained the same.

We knew that we could not afford to lose. The game was a ferocious affair backed up by the intensity of the collisions.

We had a great start to the game and, even though we spent a large amount of time defending, whenever we got into the Nottingham 22, we came away with points.

Going into the changing room at half-time we were very upbeat as we were 15-0 ahead but knew we had to maintain our levels of concentration to push on and achieve the bonus point.

Nottingham are a physical, robust side and it showed. They fought back, played a lot of rugby and we had to hold on by the skin of our teeth to win 15-14.

Afterwards we were happy with the win as Nottingham is a very tough place to go and pick up a result. But we were not happy with the second half and how we let that bonus point slip away.

Gareth Steenson thought it would be fun to play 'hide and seek' in a big pot of cheese and onion crisps

We have a quick turnaround this week with a day less to prepare so the emphasis will very much on recovery and being fresh for the weekend.

It gets no easier as we head up to the Midlands again to face Moseley. The game is a "double header" counting for both the league and the cup, so it is a defining game in our season.

They are probably the most improved side of the league with quality throughout. Beating Sedgley Park by 50 points validates this.

As it was St Patrick's Day this week, our Irish fraternity were in good spirits.

Chiefs' Irish players enjoyed celebrating St Patriack's Day
Chiefs' Irish players enjoyed celebrating St Patriack's Day

Both Paul McKenzie and Tom Hayes also have good footwork off the pitch, having recently qualified as grade eight public Irish jiggers.

Gareth Steenson thought it would be fun to play 'hide and seek' in a big pot of cheese and onion crisps (he still hasn't been found).

Lewis Stevenson tried to perfect the "tea pot and the gun show" pose, and John Andress practised his joke-telling to a pot plant. I'm afraid to say the plant died.

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