Vermeulen on the scoresheet again as Exeter go top
MATCH REPORT: Exeter powered to the top of the English Premiership with a 24-14 victory over west country rivals Bristol at Ashton Gate on Friday.
The Chiefs ran in four tries and claimed a bonus point through flank Jacques Vermeulen’s late touchdown.
Prop Josh Iosefa-Scott, wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and scrumhalf Stu Townsend also claimed tries for Exeter, while centre Henry Slade kicked two conversions.
Bristol responded with tries from hooker Gabriel Oghre and wing Noah Heward, with Callum Sheedy kicking two conversions, but it proved another frustrating 80 minutes for Pat Lam’s team.
Exeter are likely to lose top spot following the weekend’s games, but their status as genuine title contenders cannot be questioned.
The scorers:
For Bristol:
Tries: Oghre, Heward
Cons: Sheedy 2
For Exeter:
Tries: Iosefa-Scott, Feyi-Waboso, Townsend, Vermeulen
Cons: Slade 2
Yellow card: Stu Townsend (Exeter Chiefs, 44′)
Teams:
Bristol: 15 Max Malins, 14 Noah Heward, 13 Virimi Vakatawa, 12 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 11 Rich Lane, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Harry Randall, 8 Magnus Bradbury, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 Steven Luatua (captain), 5 Joe Batley, 4 James Dun, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Gabriel Oghre, 1 Max Lahiff.
Replacements: 16 Will Capon, 17 Jake Woolmore, 18 George Kloska, 19 Josh Caulfield, 20 Joe Owen, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 James Williams, 23 Kalaveti Ravouvou.
Exeter: 15 Ben Hammersley, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ollie Devoto, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Stu Townsend, 8 Greg Fisilau, 7 Ross Vintcent, 6 Ethan Roots, 5 Dafydd Jenkins (captain), 4 Rusi Tuima, 3 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 2 Dan Frost, 1 Nika Abuladze.
Replacements: 16 Max Norey, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Marcus Street, 19 Lewis Pearson, 20 Jacques Vermeulen, 21 Tom Cairns, 22 Joe Hawkins, 23 Zack Wimbush.
Referee: Christophe Ridley
Assistant Referees: George Selwood and Alex Thomas
TMO: Dean Richards
