Gareth Steenson capitalised on Exeter's dominant scrum to clinch victory at a rain-soaked Arms Park and leave Cardiff's European hopes hanging in the balance. Steenson, the Chiefs fly-half, scored 14 points following Don Armand's early try as Exeter started and ended their disappointing Heineken Cup campaign with victories against the Welsh region.
Alex Cuthbert crossed for Cardiff, who rallied to level the scores early in the second half, having trailed by 13 points, but Gareth Davies, their hero here against Toulon in December, scuffed the chance to clinch a draw.
A losing bonus point may yet be enough to see Cardiff into the quarter-finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup if Edinburgh fail to beat Munster at Thomond Park on Sunday.
Exeter, in contrast, had little to play for, having failed to win a game in only their second Heineken Cup campaign since that opening weekend against the Blues. Rob Baxter handed several squad players an opportunity to press their case though even the head coach could hardly have expected such an immediate response with the game's opening try inside four minutes.
Following an exchange of kicks, the second-row Damian Welch, one of three Exeter players who once called the Arms Park home, took matters into his own hands with a series of carries that edged Exeter to within touching distance of the line before Armand made the crucial last yard, and Steenson converted.
There is nothing like proving a point against your former club and Ben White, a late replacement for the captain, Dean Mumm, was rewarded for his defensive efforts in midfield, flattening his opposite number in a move that led to a penalty that Steenson swept over.
It was appearing a perfect away performance and had the effect of silencing a record crowd at the Arms Park where Cardiff had won seven of their previous nine games in the Heineken Cup, including victory over the defending champions, Toulon.
However such were their nerves that even Leigh Halfpenny made basic mistakes after Steenson kicked a second penalty. Exeter were rampant and even their second-string front row had their hosts in considerable trouble, but they lacked the clinical edge to capitalise.
Twice Kai Horstmann fancied his chances from close range off the back of that scrum but may have been better off leaving his front row to inflict more damage. The No8 spilled possession over the line with his first burst and conceded a penalty with a similar effort moments later that allowed a desperate Cardiff to clear.
Exeter were made to pay for Horstmann's naivety when Cardiff finally awoke from their slumber. Having been starved of possession for half an hour, Cardiff's backs finally had the ammunition and it was Halfpenny who sparked a sweeping try.
The full-back gathered a loose kick in midfield before Chris Dicomidis and Ellis Jenkins opened space for Cuthbert to gallop home from distance for his 14th Heineken Cup try. Halfpenny added the conversion to his earlier penalty and somehow Cardiff trailed by just 13-10 at half-time.
The hosts emerged a different team from the interval as Robin Copeland, called up by Ireland for the first time this week, took on Exeter and only a last-ditch tackle by Luke Arscott prevented Chris Czekaj scoring.
Halfpenny then levelled the scores but, just as momentum looked to have swung towards the home side, Horstmann allowed the Exeter scrum to turn the screw and Steenson nudged the visitors back in front.
That was the last time Exeter had any control as Cardiff steadily upped their game for the final 15 minutes. Halfpenny missed from distance and was then receiving treatment for an ankle injury as the fly-half Gareth Davies scuffed his effort from much closer range, seven minutes from time, after the Exeter scrum-half Dave Lewis was sent to the sin-bin for infringing at a ruck as Cardiff pressed. Instead Steenson hit the mark late on to settle the tie.|
