Chiefs in top gear at Ashton Gate

Heading into the game with just one win from three matches, Chiefs went into top gear against Bristol as Woodburn touched down twice, as did Waldrom, Sam Hill adding a fifth try.

Jordan Williams, Ross McMillan and Max Crumpton added consolation efforts for the home side, who fell just short of a bonus point of their own.

Bristol were dealt a blow in the opening minute when Tom Varndell left the field following a collision, being replaced by Charlie Amesbury.

And the Chiefs made the home side's situation even worse just a minute later as Woodburn touched down in the right corner following a flowing Exeter move orchestrated by Henry Slade -Gareth Steenson adding the conversion from the right touchline.

The home side were given a boost in the 12th minute as Varndell returned to the field, and Ian Whitten being sent to the bin, following a collision with Ryan Edwards, gave them further impetus shortly after.

But Bristol could not capitalise and instead Chiefs extended their lead before 20 minutes as Hill broke through the home side's defence and fed Woodburn to cross for his second of the match, against his hometown club, with Steenson again adding the extras.

The try sparked Bristol into life though and they reduced the deficit less than two minutes later as Williams crossed the line following a fine pass from Edwards, but Tusi Pisi was wayward with the conversion.

And Exeter stretched their lead back to 12 points as Steenson bisected the posts after Bristol conceded their first penalty of the match, in the 28th minute.

Two Exeter tries then became three just three minutes later, as Waldrom bundled over the line and the TMO judged he had crossed the whitewash – Steenson converting.

Chiefs continued to push until the half-time whistle but Bristol stood firm, holding up the Exeter attack over the line, after the visitors had taken a tap penalty.

And the second half began as the first ended, as Waldrom got his second of the match in the 43rd minute, picking from the base of a ruck to cross from two yards, with Steenson successful from the kicking tee again.

But Bristol hit back with a second try, in the 53rd minute, as McMillan span away from a driving maul to cross the whitewash, again Pisi's radar was off with the conversion.

Steenson was less generous though, extending Exeter's lead from the tee just before the hour mark.

Amesbury then thought he had scored a try in the 64th minute, but after running the length of the field to chase a kick, his efforts -and those of Geoff Parling, who ran back to make a tackle -were in vain as the referee had already blown for a penalty.

The try did come though. Crumpton putting the home side within touching distance of a bonus point as he popped out of a spinning maul to break clear -Pisi adding the extras this time.

But Exeter put the final nail in the Bristol coffin in the 79th minute, as Hill finished off a fine team move, with Steenson kicking the Chiefs to a final total of 41 points.

The scorers:

For Bristol:

Tries:Williams, McMillan, Crumpton

Con: Williams

For Exeter Chiefs:

Tries:Woodburn 2, Waldrom 2, Hill

Cons: Steenson 5

Pens: Steenson 2

Yellow card: Ian Whitten (Exeter Chiefs, 12 – foul play,  dangerous tackle)

Teams:

Bristol: 15 Jordan Williams, 14 Ryan Edwards, 13 Will Hurrell, 12 Thretton Palamo, 11 Tom Varndell, 10 Tusi Pisi, 9 Will Cliff, 8 Jordan Crane, 7 Jack Lam (captain), 6 Jon Fisher, 5 Mark Sorenson, 4 James Phillips, 3 Gaston Cortes, 2 Ross McMillan, 1 Kyle Traynor.

Replacements: 16 Max Crumpton, 17 Soane Tonga'uiha, 18 Jamal Ford-Robinson, 19 Joe Joyce, 20 Mitch Eadie, 21 Martin Roberts, 22 Adrian Jarvis, 23 Charlie Amesbury.

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Lachie Turner, 14 Olly Woodburn, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Sam Hill, 11 Ian Whitten, 10 Gareth Steenson (captain), 9 Will Chudley, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Damian Welch, 4 Mitch Lees, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Alec Hepburn.

Replacements: 16 Jack Yeandle, 17 Ben Moon, 18 Harry Williams, 19 Geoff Parling, 20 Kai Horstmann, 21 Dave Lewis, 22 Ollie Devoto, 23 James Short.

Referee: Tom Foley

Assistant referees: Greg Macdonald, Paul Dix

TMO: Sean Davey

Source: @premrugby