Chiefs 33 Sharks 17

Exeter Chiefs 33

Sale Sharks 17

Mark Stevens at Sandy Park

There was no Christmas Day hangover for Rob Baxter’s Exeter Chiefs side as they maintained their lofty status in the Aviva Premiership with victory over visiting Sale Sharks.

With little to choose between either side at the break, the Devon club cranked through the gears during the second half to notch up their sixth win in seven league starts.

Scrum-half Will Chudley led the way for the hosts, scoring a try in each half, whilst there were further touchdowns for Thomas Waldrom, James Short and Tom Johnson. Gareth Steenson and Will Hooley mopped up the remaining points to put the Chiefs on top - for 24 hours at least - in their final game of 2015.

In reply, Sale countered with tries of their own from Will Addison and Josh Beaumont, both of which were converted by Danny Cipriani, who also added a first half penalty. However, it was never enough against a Scrooge-like Exeter defence.

After mixed fortunes in the European Champions Cup, Baxter was hoping his side would mark their return to domestic action with a big display against the visiting Northerners, who themselves had collected back-to-back wins in the Challenge Cup over French rivals Castres.

Ahead of this festive kick-off, Baxter made a number of changes to his starting XV from that which had lost to Clermont Auvergne last time out. In the pack, Ben Moon and Mitch Lees returned, while behind Sam Hill’s inclusion in the centre meant Jack Nowell was shunted to the wing with Matt Jess the man to miss out.

Despite the re-jig, it was the home side who set the early tone. Indeed, Baxter’s side went through countless phases in the early stages, starving the Sharks of a touch for the opening three minutes of the contest.

It was industrious stuff from the Chiefs, but they could not make their early pressure tell and it was Sale who broke the game’s deadlock, landing their first points of the match when England international Cipriani slotted a penalty after referee Dean Richards had penalised the home side at scrum time.

The lead proved short-lived for the Sharks, who were struggling to contain the Chiefs - even though they were playing into a howling wind from the West. Strong handling from deep helped to position Exeter into enemy territory, creating the platform for the tried-and-trusted, pick-and-go raid from the home pack. Initial shunts were repelled, but when one final shove went for the line, referee Richards was undecided on whether the ball had been grounded.

Upstairs it went to the TV match official and - after countless replays on the big screen - the score was awarded to the try-machine himself, Thomas Waldrom. Steenson - on his 100th Premiership appearance for the club - could not convert as his effort caught on the wind.

Four minutes later and the Chiefs were doubling their tally, again the home side’s slick attack punched holes into the Sale rearguard, allowing Chudley to spot the gap at a ruck and snipe clear of the cover for a second try. Again, Steenson could not add the extras, his punt this time holding up in the elements and falling just short of the Sale crossbar.

It was no more than Baxter’s side deserved in the conditions, but just as though they looked like adding a third, they were hit with a setback of their own. A Cipriani line-out positioned Sale to the Exeter 22 and it was off the resultant set-piece that the Sharks cleverly worked the ball across the park, creating time and space for Addison to coast over for the converted score.

Undeterred, the Chiefs - who were being closely monitored by new England forwards coach Steve Borthwick - continued to pile forward in pursuit of further reward and with half time fast approaching, they again went close with a series of chances. A handful of five-metre raids threatened the visiting line, before the ball was shipped wide to the left to Phil Dollman, whose swift hands appeared to allow winger James Short to cross the whitewash. Again, Richards wanted further clarification from the TMO, but this time the chance was chalked off.

HALF TIME EXETER CHIEFS 10 SALE SHARKS 10

With conditions now in their favour, the Chiefs were hoping for a strong start to the second period. However, it was Sale who started the brighter with Cipriani pulling the strings from the No.10 role.

His clever kick in behind pegged the home side back deep inside their own half and although they cleared the threat well, another surge of pressure saw the Sharks fashion the opening for No.8 Beaumont to collect and then canter through the middle for a second try, again converted by Cipriani.

Among those to celebrate loudest was Beaumont’s father Bill, the current RFU chairman and former England captain, who was among the sell-out crowd packed inside Sandy Park.

His cheers, though, soon diminished as an instance a mistake from the young protege saw him concede a penalty midway inside his own half. With little appearing on, Chudley’s incisive thinking caught the Sharks napping and he scampered clear of the cover to add his second try of the game and a third for the Chiefs.

Although Steenson saw his testing touchline conversion drift wide of the mark, he made no mistake just before the hour as he nudged the Chiefs back in front with a penalty after Sale had been pinged for not releasing at the tackle in front of their own posts.

Sale turned to their bench to liven up proceedings, but unlike their flourescent shirts, nobody was willing to really step up to the mark. Although there was plenty of huff and puff from the visitors, far too often they were met with a defiant black wall.

Indeed, having soaked up a period of Sale pressure, the Chiefs turned defence into attack. Nowell initially caused chaos with one of his trademark breaks from deep, then Campagnaro - who looked lively on his first introduction to English rugby’s top flight - also threatened with a mazy run that certainly augurs well for the future.

In the end, though, there was to be no denying the Devonians their bonus point score as Short snaffled up a loose ball just inside halfway before applying the after burners and scorching down the left flank unopposed to score the all-important fourth try and his fifth of the season. This time Steenson made no mistakes with the conversion, drilling his kick between the posts much to the delight of the home faithful.

Bonus point secured, now the Chiefs were just looking to add the icing on the cake to another polished performance. England star Nowell thought he was over in the right corner late on only to be denied for a knock-on, then a five-metre line-out came and went as the Sharks scrambled in defence.

The Chiefs were far from over and with the crowd roaring on every piece of attacking intent, they served up the coupe de grace late on when fast hands carved open the Sale backline, creating the space for Johnson to collect and power his way to the line.

Even then the Chiefs were not content the job had been finally done and dusted as replacement hooker Elvis Taione picked a lovely line to burst through the middle at full tilt. Although the Tongan’s rampaging run was thwarted at the death, Mike Haley’s attempt to wrestle the ball back in the ensuing melee was deemed illegal and he was banished to the sidelines with a yellow card.

Still with a minute to play, the Chiefs looked to power over once more from the resultant penalty to the corner. To their credit, Sale withheld the threat, but did leak a final penalty which Hooley dispatched to wrap up proceedings.

With 2015 complete for Baxter’s side who, it has to be said, have lost only once on home soil this year. Now it’s onto the New Year and a testing challenge away to Northampton Saints, who themselves will be looking for a response following their surprise loss at London Irish.

Chiefs: P Dollman; J Nowell, I Whitten, S Hill (M Campagnaro 25), J Short; G Steenson (W Hooley 78), W Chudley (D Lewis 78); B Moon (C Rimmer 59), J Yeandle (capt, E Taione 73), T Francis (M Low 59); M Lees, G Parling (O Atkins 69); D Armand, J Salvi (T Johnson 64), T Waldrom.

Tries - Waldrom, Chudley (2), Short, Johnson; Conversion - Steenson; Penalties - Steenson, Hooley

Sale Sharks: M Haley; T Arscott, S James, S Tuitupou (M Jennings 57), W Addison; D Cipraini (J Ford 67), P Stringer (C Cusiter 52); R Harrison (E Lewis-Roberts 55), T Taylor (C Nield , V Cobilas (B Mujati 52); J Mills (A Ostrikov 52), B Evans; D Braid (capt), TJ Ioane (M Easter 72), J Beaumont.

Tries - Addison, Beaumont; Conversions - Ciprani (2); - - Cipriani

Yellow Card: Haley

Referee: D Richards

Attendance: 12,425