Game should not have been played – Baxter
EXETER Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter was adamant that Saturday's Championship clash against Plymouth Albion at Brickfields should not have gone ahead.
A small section of the playing surface was hard at the start of the match following freezing temperatures overnight.
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Exeter clearly did not want the game to go-ahead, but referee Rowan Kitt and touch-judges Steve Leyshon and Nigel Higginson performed a pitch inspection and declared the surface playable, having seen two junior matches played on the ground before the Championship clash.
Once the league game started, in heavy rain, it was Albion who played the better rugby and after prevailing 23-13, they deservedly became the first team this season to beat league leaders Chiefs.
However, Baxter is certain the game should have been postponed, declaring the pitch 'dangerous in several areas'.
"The biggest factor which disappoints me the most is that the whole day has been a little bit too much about Plymouth Albion," said Baxter after the full-time whistle on Saturday.
"I know when you travel to an away ground that is likely to happen, but at the end of the day the pitch was not fit enough to play a game of rugby on and it was dangerous in several areas.
"We didn't want to play and Plymouth obviously did, so the officials made the decision. Our concern, though, was over the whole state of the pitch.
"The decision to go ahead happened, which was out of my hands, but then you just have to get on with.
"After that I felt the whole momentum of the day went too much for Plymouth for my liking. I will look at the DVD and see what I think, but that was my initial impressions of the game."
Baxter added: "I am not going to take anything away from Plymouth. They had some areas of their game which they did very, very well and we didn't deal with it as efficiently as we should.
"I am a little bit concerned about the penalty count. I am not quite sure the penalty count against us was 100 per cent correct, but again without looking at the DVD I can't really say too much.
"In situations like this, you have to try and avoid making excuses when you lose or when you don't perform well.
"I think there were various areas where we didn't perform well in, we didn't do well enough.
"If I am honest, we maybe didn't approach some areas of the game as well as we could have done in the training week and the way we approached this game today. That counted against us a little bit.
"Results like this are disappointing not only for us, but also for our fans who have travelled here and who have watched us playing well and winning games this year.
"They have come down here, watched us underperform. and lose a game of rugby.
"The over-riding thing for me, however, is that the league will not be decided on a frozen pitch in December at the Brickfields. The big games will come on different surfaces and different places.
"Plymouth have had a nice Christmas present and we seem to be a club that delve out Christmas presents as we go through the league season.
"That said, I'd rather be delving a present out now in December than I would later in the season in crucial play-off games or semi-finals if we are lucky to get there."
19 Comments
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by Andrew Goff, I'm Off
Tuesday, December 22 2009, 11:02AM
“Prama donna . What a cry baby .”
by Rick, plymouth
Tuesday, December 22 2009, 4:12AM
“It sound like sour grape to me but what and was Albion playing on a difference place it simple Albion was the better Team on the day
have little class baxter your acting like a footballer”
by RickWillz, Plymouth
Monday, December 21 2009, 7:26PM
“Best of luck to Bristol next week thanks to Baxters comments, they will have something ro moan about!”
by Daniel, Saltash
Monday, December 21 2009, 7:13PM
“Well done Albion what Baxter says is rubbish cos you beaten them”
by monty, Saltash
Monday, December 21 2009, 5:12PM
“One question for Mr Baxter is the pitch was that bad, how come the pre-match entertainment was allowed to continue on the pitch. If kids could play on it, then your over grown kids could too. I use to play for albion too and have played on much worse pitches than the one Saturday.”
by flanker7, Plymouth
Monday, December 21 2009, 3:23PM
“I would also suggest to Rob Baxter when he takes a look at the DVD he considers his team luck not to have had a player sent straight off with a red card.
There were a least a couple ocassions on another day this could have occured.
What he will need to address before the arrival of Bristol, is his own gameplan or lack of it.
No answers at all to Albion's rolling maul throughout the game.
They could be facing another defeat on Sunday if his team can't give a response to this hiding.
Come on Albion!!!!!!!!”
by flanker7, Plymouth
Monday, December 21 2009, 2:54PM
“Still in a very pleasant mood, I sat with friends in the EJS and behind us was whinging Exeter supporters throughout the game.
Every referee decision questioned, on ocassions got foul-mouthed, just ignored them in the end as losing evidently something they couldn't live with.
I spoke with other Exe supporters who were very gracious and approving of the Albion performance.
Baxter got what his team deserved on the day "NOTHING BUT A GOOD HIDING.
The moment you start complaining of not wanting to play upsets the mindset of players and I'm sure this had a significant in the convincing Albion win.
Well done boys, now lets go get the Pirates.”
by notaalbionfan, plymuff
Monday, December 21 2009, 1:52PM
“Grow up Baxter. It was same for both teams.”
by notaalbionfan, plymuff
Monday, December 21 2009, 1:51PM
“Grow up Baxter. It was same for both teams.”
by Mark Evans, Plymouth
Monday, December 21 2009, 1:09PM
“Well dee dums! Grow up Exeter, we have deserved this win and we did it well. 10 points at this level is a kicking. I had to listen to arrogant Exeter fans before and during the game, so enjoyed it when they quietly departed our back garden in disbelief. C'mon Albionnnnnnnn”