Chiefs 30 Wasps 26

Exeter Chiefs 30

London Wasps 26

Mark Stevens at Sandy Park

Welshman Tom James enjoyed a dream home debut as he touched down twice as Exeter Chiefs recorded their first victory of the new Aviva Premiership season against London Wasps.

The 'Merthyr Express' grabbed a try in each half to go alongside a second half touchdown from flanker James Scaysbrook and 15 points from the boot of fly-half Gareth Steenson.

It was the perfect riposte from the Chiefs following their opening day loss at Northampton Saints, whilst for Wasps - who had Christian Wade and Ashley Johnson both cross the whitewash - it was another disappointing outcome

However, having come unstuck seven days earlier at Franklin's Gardens, Baxter refused to make wholesale changes for his side's latest outing on home soil. Instead he stuck largely with the same line-up with the sole change coming in the back division where England Under-20s starlet Sam Hill was afforded his first-ever start in the Premiership.

Hill's inclusion meant Ian Whitten was switched to the wing, while Matt Jess was the man who missed out, filling the void left by Hill on the bench. The only other change came on the bench where Welsh international Craig Mitchell was given the nod over Carl Rimmer.

Like the Chiefs, visiting Wasps were also looking to get their season up and running after they lost on the opening day to Harlequins in the second game of the London Double Header.

The Londoners also made changes with starts for returning skipper Chris Bell, back-row forward Ashley Johnson and winger Josh Bassett, who was drafted in after highly-rated winger Tom Varndell sustained a bicep injury during training earlier in the week.

Despite the changes, it was Wasps who opened up the brighter as they broke the deadlock inside two minutes when summer signing Andy Goode slotted them in front with a penalty after Exeter hooker Jack Yeandle was pulled up for side entry at a ruck.

Former England international Goode doubled his tally on ten minutes with a similar effort, before the Chiefs finally got themselves up and running with a kick of their own through the prolific Steenson.

It was the lift the home side needed and as they slowly began to take a hold up front, so the tempo in the Chiefs game brought about rich rewards. Determined work through both the forwards and backs saw Exeter punch their way deep into the Wasps 22, the result of which saw Welshman James power his way over for his first converted try in the top flight.

At the other end, Goode saw a long-range penalty attempt sail wide of the right post, before he made amends on 29 minutes with an easier effort after the Chiefs had infringed at a scrum.

However, the Chiefs countered with two penalties of their own, the second of which saw South African Johnson dispatched to the sidelines for ten minutes for a crude high tackle on Haydn Thomas.

Although down a man, Wasps finished the half well and they were rewarded when with the last play of the first period, James infringed wide on the left flank allowing Goode to land a fourth penalty

HALF TIME EXETER CHIEFS 16 LONDON WASPS 12

On the resumption the early exchanges were fast and frenetic, but it was the Chiefs who slowly began to exert their force across the park. With the pack tearing into their counterparts and the backs looking slick with ball in hand, it was not long before the first points of the half came about.

With the ball deep inside their own half, Phil Dollman's chip and chase appeared to be well covered by Wade, but as a swarm of home attackers closed in on the England and British Lions speedster, he spilled the ball allowing Thomas to collect and feed the ball out to the waiting Scaysbrook (pictured), who will not score an easier try this term.

Steenson obliged with the extras to that score and Exeter's third which duly arrived on the hour mark, courtesy of Welsh wizard James. A summer signing from the Cardiff Blues, James has wasted little time in showcasing his obvious finishing prowess. On this occasion, he collected the ball just inside his own half before turning on the after burners and scorching past the Wasps defence with aplomb.

Now with three tries in the bag, the home faithful were doing their best to will their battle-hardened troops over for an all-important fourth try. Sadly, Wasps had other ideas and in a spirited last quarter they hit back with two scores of thier own.

First Wade atoned for his earlier error when he collected a pass off replacement Ben Jacobs to glide in by the sticks; then South African flanker Johnson was first over as he applied the finish to a well-drilled rolling maul off a line-out.

Goode slotted conversions to both tries to finish with a personal haul of 16 points, but for the former Leicester and Worcester back, it was all a little too late in the day.

Next up for the Chiefs is a trip to the Madejski Stadium where London Irish - fresh from victory at Worcester Warriors - will be waiting.

Chiefs: P Dollman; I Whitten, J Shoemark, S Hill (M Jess 61), T James; G Steenson (H Slade 69), H Thomas (D Lewis 61); B Sturgess (B Moon 59), J Yeandle (C Whitehead 61), H Tui (C Mitchell 66); D Mumm (capt), D Welch; T Johnson, J Scaysbrook (B White 65), D Ewers. Replacement (not used): T Hayes

Tries - James (2), Scaysbrook; Conversions - Steenson (3); Penalties - Steenson (3)

Wasps: A Masi (T Bell 76); C Wade, C Bell (capt), C Hayter, J Bassett; A Goode, J Simpson (C Davies 51); M Mullan (S McIntyre 66), T Lindsay (N Cochrane 56), J Cooper-Woolley (W Taylor 66); J Launchbury, T Palmer (J Cannon 67); A Johnson, S Jones, E Jackson.

Tries - Wade, Johnson; Conversions - Goode (2); Penalties - Goode (4)

Yellow Card: Johnson

Referee: M Fox

Attendance: 7,033

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v London Irish (A), Aviva Premiership, Saturday, September 21 (3pm)