Exeter Chiefs v Bath Rugby

A five-point win at Sandy Park saw a jubilant Exeter Chiefs team secure their place in the PREM Rugby Cup semi-finals in a fortnight’s time.

Three first half tries, including a brace from full-back Dan John, were backed up by two scored in the second. Bath Rugby secured a consolation third try at the death from former Chief Dan Frost, but it wasn’t enough for a losing bonus-point.

It was a painful sight for Chiefs supporters when the first try of the day was scored for Bath by none other than future Chief, Will Butt. The centre flung a long arm out to dot the ball down when he was tackled just shy of the line after some strong offensive work by Johann van Graan’s men. Butt’s fly-half Will Roue neatly converted.

The tide quickly turned in Chiefs’ favour, however. Zack Wimbush was a force to be reckoned with on his carries deep in Bath territory before quick thinking from Max Norey to take a penalty tap himself put Chiefs on the front-foot. A pop offload from Josh Iosefa-Scott found Dan John, who scampered over in the corner.

Finn Worley Brady made the hard yards to release Paul Brown-Bampoe in the five-metre channel to strike the match for Chiefs’ second try. Moving downfield with pace, Chiefs worked the ball in Bath’s 22 before Olly Woodburn spotted space, carving his way through a gap in the defence to cross for the score.

John nabbed his brace before a half hour was through. In the same corner, he twinkle-toe stepped the touchline to ground the ball before fly-half Harvey Skinner curled the conversion around nicely to split the uprights.

Wimbush tied up the try bonus-point for Chiefs on 50 minutes. The towering centre evaded four attempted tackles to force his way through contact and barge over the line.

Sam Winters, a late call-up for Bath when Charlie Griffin had to withdraw early in the warm-up, scampered over on the blindside for a Bath try five minutes later. However, Chiefs had already sunk their teeth into the game and looked set not to let it slip from their grasp.

Jimmy Roots added a fifth try for the home side when he powered his way over the whitewash at the base of the sticks. The replacement prop was too much to stop from close range, and Henry Slade easily added the extra two points.

With a minute left on the clock, Bath’s replacement hooker Frost scored a try at the base of a litter of bodies, but it wasn’t enough for the visitors.

Chiefs now head into a bye-week knowing that the fate of where their semi-final will be played, either at home or away, will have to wait to be decided next weekend.