Exeter stay perfect
PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Gareth Steenson kicked his way past 1500 Premiership points as Exeter Chiefs overcame Bath 39-24 at The Rec with a dominant second-half performance.
The hosts started strongly, with Rhys Priestland getting an early try, but soon found themselves behind as Stu Townsend and Don Armand both touched down for the Chiefs.
After the break Steenson kicked his 1500th point and Dave Ewers, Ian Whitten and Jack Nowell all crossed, meaning Exeter stay perfect in the league with six wins from six.
The match began with a kicking contest but Bath’s Freddie Burns soon started to exert his influence with a crunching tackle in defence and subsequently the first three-pointer of the game.
The ball flowed from end to end but Bath extended their lead to 10-0 as Semesa Rokoduguni escaped down the right and chipped over the defence, only for Priestland to beat him to the ball.
A scrum penalty on 27 mins allowed Exeter a way into the game and an interception try from Townsend led to his side drawing level following Steenson’s conversion.
Armand’s try put the Chiefs 15-13 up at the break and then second-half penalties exchanged for Burns and Steenson saw the away side maintain that two-point advantage.
After Rokoduguni saw yellow Burns nailed a superb long-range kick from out wide, but from there Exeter took over as Ewers powered over at the back of a maul on 62 minutes.
Exeter cut loose and a spell of pressure saw Whitten cross out wide before Henry Slade intercepted in his own 22 and created Nowell’s try – meaning a late score for Bath’s Chris Cook was a mere consolation.
The scorers:
For Bath:
Tries: Priestland, Cook
Con: Burns
Pens: Burns 4
For Exeter:
Tries: Townsend, Armand, Ewers, Whitten, Nowell
Cons: Steenson 4
Pens: Steenson 2
Yellow Card: Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath, 48); Ian Whitten (Exeter Chiefs; 75)
Bath: 15 Freddie Burns, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Jackson Willison, 12 Cooper Vuna, 11 Joe Cokanasiga, 10 Rhys Priestland (captain), 9 Max Green, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Tom Ellis, 6 Zach Mercer, 5 Charlie Ewels, 4 Dave Attwood, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Nathan Catt.
Replacements: 16 Jack Walker, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Anthony Perenise, 19 Elliott Stooke 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 Chris Cook, 22 Max Wright, 23 Darren Atkins.
Exeter: 15 Phil Dollman, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ollie Devoto, 11 Santiago Cordero, 10 Gareth Steenson (captain), 9 Stuart Townsend, 8 Matt Kvesic, 7 Don Armand, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Sam Skinner, 4 Dave Dennis, 3 Harry Williams, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Ben Moon.
Replacements: 16 Jack Yeandle, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Tomas Francis, 19 Ollie Atkins, 20 Tom Lawday, 21 Jack Maunder, 22 Joe Simmonds, 23 Ian Whitten.
Referee: Christophe Ridley
Assistant referees: Simon Harding, Jonathan Healy
TMO: Geoff Warren
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