Exeter Chiefs defeated Bath 35-12, enhancing their chances for a play-off spot in the Gallagher Premiership. Bath's loss prevented them from reaching the top of the league table.
Key points
Exeter Chiefs won 35-12 against Bath
Exeter's victory boosts their play-off hopes
Bath missed the chance to top the Gallagher Premiership
Key players included Josh Iosefa-Scott and Henry Slade
Bath faced disciplinary issues with red and yellow cards
Exeter ChiefsBathGallagher PremiershipHenry Slade
Exeter secured a huge win over Bath to boost their play-off hopes (Getty)
Exeter secured a huge win over Bath to boost their play-off hopes (Getty)
Reigning champions Bath missed the opportunity to go to the top of the Gallagher Prem table as Exeter Chiefs took a huge step towards an end of season play-off spot with a deserved bonus-point victory at Sandy Park.
Exeter looked likely losers at half-time but a disjointed Bath had no answers to a determined effort from the spirited Chiefs in the second half, who were helped by a red card for Quinn Roux and a yellow one for Tom de Glanville on the way to a 35-12 success.
Josh Iosefa-Scott, Paul Brown-Bampoe, Len Ikitau and Campbell Ridl scored Exeter’s tries with Henry Slade kicking three penalties and two conversions. Harvey Skinner also added a conversion.
Australia's Len Ikitau was on the scoresheet for Exeter (Getty)
Australia's Len Ikitau was on the scoresheet for Exeter (Getty)
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Bath conceded three penalties in the first 12 minutes and Slade made them pay with a second successful kick and on the restart they immediately conceded another when Roux high tackled Slade which resulted in the visitors’ dazed lock being red carded.
Slade departed for an HIA before Ted Hill infringed for the second time in the opening quarter and Bath were made to pay from the resulting line-out.
Bath's Quinn Roux was shown a 20-minute red card for a high tackle (Getty)
Bath's Quinn Roux was shown a 20-minute red card for a high tackle (Getty)
Australian international centre Ikitau burst away to put the defence on the back foot before Iosefa-Scott was on hand to crash over, with Skinner’s conversion giving Chiefs a 13-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Bath did not strike a blow during that period but five minutes later their pack produced an unstoppable line-out drive which resulted in Frost touching down.
Slade returned, having passed his HIA, with Charlie Ewels introduced at the end of the 20-minute suspension for Roux but the second quarter saw the hosts unable to capitalise on the elements in their favour so a 13-5 half-time lead did not appear at that stage to be sufficient.
However four minutes after the restart, Bath full-back Tom de Glanville was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on and it proved costly as slick passing from Chiefs ended with Brown-Bampoe outflanking the cover to score.
Bath introduced four from the bench including Cam Redpath for his 100th appearance for the club and in time to see Ridl sin-binned for a high tackle on Russell.
Almost immediately Bath capitalised when Underhill broke away from a driving maul to score, before Slade missed a 35-metre shot at goal.
Ridl returned and immediately saw Ikitau dart over from close-range for his first top-flight try, before Ridl atoned for his earlier indiscretion by racing away for the bonus-point try.
Slade converted and added a last-minute penalty to complete a miserable afternoon for Bath.
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Ulster-bound Jamie Benson scored a hat-trick as Harlequins ran in 12 tries to thrash Newcastle 76-17.
Jamie Benson scored a hat trick for Harlequins (Getty)
Jamie Benson scored a hat trick for Harlequins (Getty)
A basement battle between the two bottom teams at Kingston Park started with Alex Dombrandt, Benson and Bryn Bradley all scoring in the opening 15 minutes for the visitors before Adam Brocklebank replied.
The damage was ultimately done in the first half where a ruthless display saw Cadan Murley, Sam Riley, Marcus Smith and Will Hobson all cross along with a Josh Hodge effort for Newcastle as Harlequins took a mammoth 45-10 lead at the break.
Luke Northmore grounded early in the second half before Benson scored twice in quick succession to complete his hat-trick and tries from Bradley and Jimmy Staples secured Quins’ fourth Prem win this season.
