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Clive Stuart-Smith column

Exeter Chiefs scrum-half and BBC Devon columnist

Clive Stuart Smith (Pic: Sports Action Photos)
As players, we did not have an opportunity to pass our thanks onto both Pete and Paul for all they did for the club and as a squad, we wish them really well in their futures

It has been a difficult last two weeks at the club. The Moseley game was what could be described as a nightmare.

Moseley fully deserved the win but it was in the manner that we lost which was so disappointing. We made very basic errors and they capitalised on them.

Last Tuesday, the squad was called together and we were told that the board had decided that Pete Drewett and Paul Larkin had parted company with the club.

It came as a shock to everybody and shows you how brutal professional sport can be. As players, we did not have an opportunity to pass our thanks onto both Pete and Paul for all they did for the club and as a squad, we wish them really well in their futures.

It was a particularly tough thing to cope with but we had to try and put it to the back of our minds as we had a game to play against Newbury and could not afford another slip-up.

After a very honest meeting about the Moseley game, a clear path forward was agreed upon. The whole squad was very professional as our attention remained focused with correcting on the field matters rather than what was going on off it.

Playing into a very strong wind in the first half, we dominated possession but couldn't convert this into points. It was frustrating but it didn't effect our confidence to actually play.

There are four games to go and we are determined to finish on a really positive note

At half time the message was to trust our patterns of play and keep things simple but with a higher level of accuracy. The highlight for the team was scoring a try from our own line after some players showed footwork that the great Phil Bennett would have been proud of. Understandably, there were a few bits that didn't quite work but the positives far outweighed these.

We move quickly on, heading up to the Midlands to face Coventry this weekend. They are an aggressive side and as we have learned this season if we are not at 100% we will inevitably not perform and not get the result.

There are four games to go and we are determined to finish on a really positive note.



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