Chiefs 12 Bath 12

Exeter Chiefs 12

Bath 12

Mark Stevens at Sandy Park

Christmas may have been earlier in the week, but Bath were gift-wrapped a share of the spoils in their latest Aviva Premiership match-up with the Exeter Chiefs.

With just four minutes remaining of another keenly-contested derby encounter at a packed Sandy Park, referee David Rose handed the visitors a belated festive present in the shape of a penalty try.

That score, combined with the resultant conversion from replacement Tom Heathcote, ensured Exeter's search for a first-ever top flight win over Gary Gold's side will extend into another season at least.

In six Premiership attempts the Chiefs have still to defeat their foes from the Roman City, although this latest opportunity had to be the best opportunity yet.

Four penalties from fly-half Gareth Steenson (pictured) appeared to have done the trick for the Devon club as they entered the final throws of the match, but sadly it was not to be as a defiant Bath - who had earlier scored a try through Michael Claassens - yet again did enough to thwart Rob Baxter's side.

Having been left licking their wounds following a narrow defeat at Gloucester the week previous, the Chiefs returned to home soil looking not only to return to winning ways at the first attempt, but at the same time maintain their unbeaten home record in the top flight, as well as claim that all-important first victory over Bath.

To help aid the cause, head coach Baxter was bolstered by the return of skipper Tom Hayes in the second row in place of James Hanks, whilst centre Phil Dollman was also back having sat out the trip to Kingsholm due to illness.

Bath, meanwhile, were also looking for a response following their pre-Christmas stuffing by Saracens at the Rec. Back into their line-up came Matt Banahan, Ben Skirving, Ryan Caldwell, Dave Attwood and Ollie Devoto, the latter of whom was making his first-ever Premiership start at full-back.

As expected, the early exchanges proved a tight affair as both sides look to get a grip of the heavy underfoot conditions.

The Chiefs, though, looked the brighter and having threatened with a few early attacks, they finally broke the deadlock when fly-half Steenson plundered a 30-metre penalty after the visitors had strayed offside following a rehearsed home line-out.

Exeter's lead proved shortlived, however, as within five minutes Gary Gold's side struck back with the game's opening try. Working the ball through a series of phases deep inside the Chiefs half, Claassens, Tom Biggs and Banahan were all involved in the build-up for the former to brush aside Steenson and sneak over in the left-hand corner.

World Cup winning fly-half Donald saw his testing conversion attempt fall short of the mark as the visitors looked to press on.

Almost immediately the Chiefs look to hit back with Gonzalo Camacho and Luke Arscott leading the charge from deep. The duo both made significant inroads into the Bath rearguard, but too often the final pass was lacking for the home side and the chances came and went.

As the break approached, though, Exeter summoned one final push and having initially burst down the right flank, they worked the ball across to the left side where upon Bath's Argentine winger, Horacio Agulla, illegally snuck around the side.

It gifted Steenson a second pot at goal with the last action of the half and the Irishman made no mistake, thundering over a sublime kick from wide out.

HALF TIME EXETER CHIEFS 6 BATH 5

Steenson, who recently celebrated a new two-year contract with the club, was quickly in on the scoring act following the resumption, adding a third penalty after Bath No.8 Ben Skirving became the latest player to fall foul of referee David Rose.

Although not the most testing of kicks in Steenson's career, the Dungannon-born back will certainly remember it in years to come as it was the effort that finally took him past the 1,000-point mark for the club.

Now intent on hunting down Tony Yapp's all-time club record, Steenson edged a further three points closer when he added a fourth penalty on 50 minutes when Bath were again guilty of straying offside following good charges from the lively Camacho and Hoani Tui.

Although it was only a seven-point buffer, it was enough for the Chiefs to start cranking up the gears as they went in search of further reward.

Minute by minute the pressure was being intensified by the home side, who came within a whisker of crossing the whitewash just past the hour mark when they rumbled through a series of attacking phases, only to be thwarted by a knock-on just inches from the Bath line.

Bath may have been living dangerously, but crucially they remained within a converted score of their rivals.

And it was Exeter's failure to convert their pressure into points that came back to bite them with just four minutes remaining. Having seen one Bath line-out drive thwarted illegally, referee Rose saw enough wrong on a second, more concerted drive, penalising the home side with a penalty try, which replacement Heathcote was able to convert with ease.

It was a hammer blow to the Chiefs, who despite one last throw of the dice, were unable to force any kind of error out of Bath, who continue to hold the hoodoo curse over Baxter's side.

Chiefs: L Arscott; G Camacho, P Dollman, J Shoemark, M Jess; G Steenson, H Thomas; B Sturgess (B Moon 55), S Alcott (N Clark h/t), H Tui (C Rimmer 69); T Hayes (capt), A Muldowney (J Hanks 63); D Mumm (T Johnson 63), J Scaysbrook, R Baxter. Replacements (not used): K Barrett, I Mieres, I Whitten.

Penalties - Steenson (4)

Bath: O Devoto (B Williams 52); H Agulla, K Eastmond, M Banahan, T Biggs; S Donald (T Heathcote 51), M Claassens (M McMillan 63); P James (C Beech 60-69), L Mears (T Dunn 76), D Wilson (A Perenise 68); D Attwood, R Caldwell (S Hooper 56); F Louw (capt), G Mercer, B Skirving (W Skuse 71).

Tries - Claassens, Penalty Try; Conversion - Heathcote

Referee: D Rose

Touch Judges: P Huckle & A Pearce

4th Official: L Pearce

Attendance: 10,744

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Northampton Saints (H), Aviva Premiership, Saturday, January 5 (3pm).