Gloucester 18 Chiefs 16

Gloucester    18

Exeter Chiefs    16

Mark Stevens at Kingsholm

Freddie Burns stuck the boot into Exeter Chiefs ahead of Christmas as he kicked his Gloucester team to a narrow 18-16 Aviva Premiership victory at Kingsholm.

The England starlet landed all 18 points for the Cherry & Whites as his six penalties ended the Devon club's impressive seven-game winning streak in all competitions.

The Chiefs, however, played their part in an absorbing contest as Simon Alcott's second half try, coupled with 11 points from the boot of Gareth Steenson, at least ensured the Devonians headed back down the wet M5 with a creditable losing bonus point.

That point ensures they remain sixth in the standings heading into the festive period, although it could easily have been a higher placing had they not fallen foul of referee Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts as often as they did.

Head coach Rob Baxter admitted post match there were a few "dubious calls" to mull over, but that will do little to detract the Chiefs who must now regroup rapidly for next week's derby date with Bath at Sandy Park.

Returning to Premiership action for the first time since seeing off London Wasps at the start of the month, the Chiefs arrived in Gloucestershire showing two changes in personnel from that which had seen off the Scarlets in the Heineken Cup just seven days earlier.

Up front Richard Baxter was back to skipper the side from No.8, whilst behind Jason Shoemark returned in the midfield alongside Ian Whitten (pictured), who despite being originally named as a replacement for the game, was drafted back into the starting fold after Phil Dollman fell ill just hours before kick-off.

Meanwhile Gloucester, fresh from defeating London Irish last time out, made three changes to their line-up as they brought in Nick Wood and Shaun Knight to the front-row, as well as England international Ben Morgan at the base of the scrum.

With just a point and a place in the table separating the two sides going into the contest, it was little surprise that the first period was largely restricted to a forwards arm wrestle, one in which neither side were willing to give an inch.

The deadlock, however, was broken on ten minutes when Exeter prop Brett Sturgess was penalised for dropping his bind at a scrum. It allowed England newcomer Burns his first shot at the target and the Gloucester made no mistake, dispatching his kick between the sticks to give the home side the early advantage.

Exeter, though, were quickly back on song and having threatened with a couple of attacks through the middle, they drew level with a kick of their own from Steenson.

Having won a penalty just inside their own half in front of the notorious 'Shed', home centre Mike Tindall gave his own 'potty-mouth' account of on-field matters and referee Apgeriant-Roberts marched the Cherry & Whites back a further ten metres.

Now within range, Steenson let fly with a quality kick that flew through the posts, much to the delight of the travelling Tribe, many of whom had postioned themselves right in the heart of Gloucester's famous terrace.

Steenson repeated the dose on 27 minutes to put the Chiefs in front for the first time, before Burns countered with an effort of his own after Chiefs forward Hoani Tui had failed to retreat quick enough from a Gloucester attack.

As half-time approached, Burns tried - and failed - with a speculative drop-goal, before the half was brought to a close with a spot of handbags between home skipper Jim Hamilton and Exeter's Dean Mumm.

HALF TIME    GLOUCESTER 6        EXETER CHIEFS 6

On the resumption, Burns' right boot was the first to fire as he restored Gloucester's advantage with a third penalty, even though the visitors were left fuming that the officials had failed to spot a blatant offside from their rivals in the initial build-up.

Although Burns saw his immaculate kicking record fall when he saw a penalty cannon back off the posts, the home marksman made no such mistake on 47 minutes when the Chiefs again fell foul of Apgeriant-Roberts for coming in at the side.

It was slowly becoming a bit of a kicking duel between the respective fly-halves, but when the Chiefs applied the shove at one scrum just outside the home 22, Gloucester buckled and Steenson was on hand to dish out the resultant punishment.

Ignited by the score, now it was the turn of the Chiefs to flex their muscles and they did to deadly effect as they claimed the opening try of the clash. Thrusting forward in a series of attacking waves, it totalled over 20 come the end, the patient approach from Baxter's side eventually paid dividends as they created the opening for hooker Alcott to crash over with Steenson adding the extras.

Exeter's lead was slender as Gloucester - who have lost only once on home soil this season - looked to haul themselves back off the floor.

Burns saw another penalty fail to land, before the Chiefs were again singled out for infringing in front of their own posts and this time the Gloucester man made no mistake as he cut the deficit to just a single point.

With the contest again heading for a gripping finale, both sides threw caution to the wind in a bid to land a decisive blow.

Sadly for the visitors, that knockout punch would come from the home side who, with six minutes remaining, forced the Chiefs to go off their feet at another ruck. It gifted Burns the opportunity he had craved and the 22-year-old made no mistake as he landed a telling sixth penalty.

For the Chiefs there was to be no early Christmas cheer, instead they must regroup quickly for next week's home assignment against bogey side Bath.

Gloucester: R Cook; C Sharples, M Tindall, B Twelvetrees, S Monahan; F Burns, J Cowan (D Robson 74); N Wood (D Murphy 58), D Dawidiuk (H Edmonds 51), S Knight; T Savage (W James 51), J Hamilton (capt); S Kalamafoni, A Qera, B Morgan. Replacements: D Chistolini, M Cox,T Molenaar, M Thomas

Penalties - Burns (5)

Chiefs: L Arscott (I Mieres 69-74); G Camacho, I Whitten, J Shoemark, M Jess; G Steenson, H Thomas; B Sturgess, S Alcott (N Clark 62), H Tui (C Rimmer 58); A Muldowney, J Hanks (T Hayes 62); D Mumm, J Scaysbrook (B White 74), R Baxter (capt). Replacements: B Moon, K Barrett, S Naqelevuki.

Try - Alcott; Conversion - Steenson; Penalties - Steenson (3)

Referee: L Apgeraint-Roberts

Touch Judges: R Goodliffe & P Dix

4th Official: A Small

Attendance: 16,121

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Bath (H), Aviva Premiership, Saturday, December 29 (3pm)