Exeter's performance was not good enough - Rob Baxter
Rob Baxter said Exeter's performance at Newcastle was
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Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter expressed disappointment after his team's performance in the recently concluded Aviva Premiership clash against Newcastle Falcons.
Despite the defeat the Sandy Park outfit continue to remain at the top of the table but it has brought an halt to Exeter's seven-match unbeaten league run.
Sinoti Sinoti, Vereniki Goneva and Kyle Cooper scored tries for the Falcons in the first half as they claimed a 25-3 lead. Even though Exeter Chiefs fought back through touchdowns from Sam Simmonds, Olly Woodburn and Toby Salmon in the second half, a last minute penalty kick from Newcastle replacement Joel Hodgson meant Baxter's men missed out on the losing bonus point as well.
"I'm not going to make too big a deal of it," Baxter said. "But our performance was simply not good enough and it's the kick up the backside we needed.
"There were too many individual moments where we didn't do the business, and that's not to take anything away from Newcastle - the result is a great credit to them.
"We have to settle everything down in the next two or three weeks and try to get things back on course. There will a be a tough review over the next few days."
Meanwhile, Newcastle Falcons boss Dean Richards expressed delight with the result that sees the team move to the sixth position in the table.
"That final penalty was crucial," Richards said after his team extended their winning run to six games. "The boys were quite lively in the changing room afterwards. I'm very proud of them, especially as we didn't get the rub of the green from the referee and had a lot of disruption to our back five.
"The first half was superb, the second half we dogged it out and I thought the boys were magnificent - they just never gave up and put their bodies on the line time and time again.
"Exeter are a quality side and the bonus for us was to be able knock them back time and time again.
"Now we can turn our attention to the Challenge Cup and Anglo Welsh Cup and try to keep this run going."
