Exeter Chiefs will be flying the flag for Devon, when they take on the Cornish Pirates in rugby's EDF National Trophy Final on 15 April, 2007. Hopes of an all-Devon final were dashed when the Pirates beat Plymouth Albion 17-9 in the semi-final on 24 March. Albion pushed the Pirates all the way in a tight encounter, but didn't make the most of their pressure.
 | | Three more points - Tony Yapp (Sportactionphotos) |
So the final will be a Devon-Cornwall affair, following Exeter's 19-12 semi-final victory over Pertemps Bees at Sandy Park. The Chiefs were indebted to the boot of Tony Yapp for hauling them back into the game. They trailed 12-0 midway through the first half - but after two early tries and a conversion, the visitors never got on the scoresheet again. Yapp, with a conversion and four penalties, and a Richard Baxter try just before half-time, won the game for the Chiefs in front of almost 3,000 fans. Baxter's try proved crucial. It came in added time at the end of the first period, and it followed a catch-and-drive move. After the match, Exeter director of rugby Pete Drewett said: "I'm delighted for the players and supporters that we made it to the final.
 | | Try scorer Richard Baxter (Sportactionphotos) |
"It should be a fabulous occasion - it will be an important day for Devon and Cornwall rugby. "Hopefully, we'll get a lot of people up there and show people at Twickenham what a good standard of rugby we have down here." Earlier this season, the Chiefs beat the Pirates 11-6 at home in February, but lost in Cornwall 37-20 in October 2006. Unfortunately, Plymouth Albion won't be making the trip to London following their defeat in Cornwall. Albion coach Graham Dawe said: "There were lots of areas in our performance where we didn't play as well as we wanted to. "We had opportunities from five metres out, but we didn't manage to take them for one reason or another." So instead, the Chiefs will be taking on the Pirates - and the Cornishmen are relishing the prospect. Head coach Jim McKay said: "This is a real breakthrough for us and Cornish rugby and we are delighted to be in the final. "The nearest we have ever got to the final before was the losing to Bristol in the semi-finals in 2004 so we have already achieved something new. Obviously though we want to push even further. “Exeter are also clearly in good form at the moment but I think the final will come down to which ever team settles down first on Sunday. They have got some talented players but so have we and we are as determined as ever to win this competition." Kick-off at Twickenham is at midday on Sunday 15 April. | 
