Woodburn brace sinks Bordeaux
The former Bath wing notched his first European tries for his new club to ensure the Chiefs bounced back after their opening round defeat at the Ospreys.
Having failed to pick up any points at the Liberty Stadium Rob Baxter's men knew they needed to get a full house in the first of three successive games against Top 14 opposition in Pool Two and they did just that with two tries in each half.
And it was a length of the 22 sprint in each half from Woodburn that set them on their way. His first try made it 8-0 to the home side, but the first of Bordeaux's three scores on the night – Nans Ducuing, Julien Rey and Yann Lesgourgues all crossed the home line – showed they had to be treated with respect.
The home lead gradually grew to 21-7 by the break with Scottish prop Moray Low crossing for the second try after popping out of a maul close to the visitors' line with the ball. Three minutes into the second half Ian Whitten rounded off a good handling move before Woodburn raced clear again for the all important bonus-point score just before the hour mark.
Bordeaux-Begles hit back with two tries of their own in the second half to show they couldn't be taken lightly, but it was a tough return to the top table of European club rugby for Raphael Ibanez' side after a 17 year gap.
The scorers:
For Exeter:
Tries: Woodburn 2, Low, Whitten
Con: Slade
Pens: Slade 4
For Bordeaux-Bègles:
Tries: Ducuing, Rey, Lesgourges
Cons: Beauxis, Lonca
Teams:
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Phil Dollman, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Ian Whitten, 12 Sam Hill, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Henry Slade, 9 Will Chudley, 8 Tom Johnson, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Ben White, 5 Damian Welch, 4 Geoff Parling, 3 Moray Low, 2 Jack Yeandle (capt), 1 Ben Moon.
Replacements: 16 Elvis Taione, 17 Carl Rimmer, 18 Alex Brown, 19 Ollie Atkins, 20 Don Armand, 21 Dave Lewis, 22 Gareth Steenson, 23 Michele Campagnaro.
Bordeaux-Bègles: 15 Nans Ducuing, 14 Metuisela Talebulamaijaina, 13 Sofiane Guitoune, 12 Julien Rey, 11 Blair Connor, 10 Lionel Beauxis, 9 Yann Lesgourgues, 8 Loann Goujon, 7 Hugh Chalmers, 6 Louis Madaule, 5 Jan Andre Marais (captain), 4 Julien Le Devedec, 3 Patrick Toetu, 2 Ole Avei, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Clement Maynadier, 17 Sébastien Taofifenua, 18 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 19 Adam Jaulhac, 20 Marco Tauleigne, 21 Baptiste Serin, 22 Romain Lonca, 23 Charles Brousse.
Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Gwyn Morris (Wales), Greg Morgan (Wales)
TMO: Gareth Simmonds (Wales)
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