Bath miss chance to top Prem after defeat at Exeter

Len Ikitau (right) scored his first Prem try for Exeter [Shutterstock]

The Prem

Exeter (13) 35

Tries: Iosefa-Scott, Brown-Bampoe, Ikitau, Ridl Cons: Skinner, Slade 2 Pens: Slade 3

Bath (5) 12

Tries: Frost, Underhill Cons: Frost

Reigning champions Bath missed the chance to go top of The Prem as they lost 35-12 at Exeter.

The Chiefs - playing for the first time since members approved an American-backed takeover of the club - were 6-0 up when Bath's Quinn Roux was given a 20-minute red card for a head-on-head clash with Henry Slade.

Josh Iosefa-Scott went over for the hosts soon after, but Dan Frost responded as Bath did well with a man down.

Both sides had a player sin-binned in the first 15 minutes of the second half as Paul Brown-Bampoe extended the hosts' lead before Sam Underhill pulled a try back for Bath.

But Australian international Len Ikitau's try with 15 minutes left ensured an Exeter win before Campbell Ridl sprinted over with five minutes to go to earn a bonus point.

The win - Exeter's first over Bath in The Prem since December 2022 - see them go five points above Bristol and into fourth place.

Meanwhile the champions failed to take advantage of Northampton's heavy derby loss at Leicester on Saturday and remain in second place - two points behind Saints.

With a strong wind at their backs Slade kicked two penalties before Roux was dismissed after colliding with Slade as the Exeter fly-half gathered a high ball.

Four minutes later Exeter broke through – Iosefa-Scott forcing his way in from close range after Ikitau's fleet-footed line break.

But Bath impressively weathered the remaining time with a man down - and hit back well - their forwards won a penalty and from the resulting lineout former Exeter favourite Frost steered the maul over the line.