Chiefs 40 Worcester 6

Exeter Chiefs 40

Worcester Warriors 6

Mark Stevens at Sandy Park

Halloween maybe a few days away, but Worcester's Aviva Premiership campaign is in danger of turning into a horror show after they were dealt a six-try thumping by the in-form Exeter Chiefs.

Rob Baxter's side returned to top flight action with aplomb, producing a defiant first half defensive show, before cutting loose in attack after the break.

Aussies Ben White and Dean Mumm both crossed for first half tries for the home side; before White, Phil Dollman, Damian Welch and Haydn Thomas got in on the scoring act after the break.

Former Exeter player Ignacio Mieres countered with two first half penalties for the basement club, but that was all they could muster against their rampant Devon hosts.

Resuming league duties after the first leg of their European exploits, the Chiefs made three changes to their starting line-up from that which had narrowly lost at Glasgow Warriors last time out. Up front Brett Sturgess and Jack Yeandle returned to the Exeter front-row, whilst behind Tongan international Fetu'u Vainikolo was handed his first Premiership start following a hamstring injury to Ian Whitten.

The Warriors, meanwhile, handed debuts to front-row duo Ofa Fainga'anuka and Agustin Creevy, as well as lock Mariano Galarza; whilst behind the scrum Jonny Arr came in for his first start of the season in a half-back pairing that included former Chief Mieres.

Despite the re-jigs to both sides, it was the home side who were quickly out of the traps. Up against a strong first half wind, the Chiefs used their pack to punch their way into the Worcester 22 with a series of pick-and-go drives through Sturgess, Dave Ewers and Welch, before Dave Lewis fed White, who was able to power his way over for his fourth try of the season, which fly-half Gareth Steenson duly converted.

Almost immediately, Worcester countered when Sturgess was adjudged to have gone off his feet at a ruck - and up stepped Argentinian international Mieres to drill the resulting penalty between the posts.

However, Baxter's side were quickly back on the offensive, landing what will no doubt be a contender for try of the season through inspirational skipper Mumm. Full-back Phil Dollman set the ball rolling, returning a Worcester kick back with interest, before some sublime hands involving Lewis and Steenson allowed the latter to set up the towering Aussie, who cantered his way under the sticks for a second converted score.

It was scintillating stuff from the Chiefs in a powerful opening blast, but the Warriors were keen to rectify their early woes and using the boot of Mieres, they looked to peg back their rivals at every opportunity.

With the penalty count mounting for both sides, the Chiefs were given a let-off on 17 minutes when Mieres cannoned a second kick back off the upright following an indiscretion from Chiefs prop Hoani Tui.

As the half continued, the Warriors continued to press forward in attack in pursuit of points, but some stubborn home resistance was telling as David Lemi and Josh Matavesi, another former Exeter star, were both thwarted with some bone-crunching hits.

Although the visitors backed themselves to try and get over the Exeter whitewash, finally they were forced to concede defeat on that front and opted for a kick at goal which Mieres duly landed to cut the deficit to 14-6 with the half all but up.

Even then the Warriors were not finished and in one last attacking rally of the half, they lay siege on the Chiefs line in hope of further reward. The Devonians, it has to be said, were in miserly mood and repelled the threat with an outstanding set of defensive drills

HALF TIME EXETER CHIEFS 14 WORCESTER WARRIORS 6

If the first half was all about defence for the Chiefs, the focus for the second half was clearly attack as the home side looked to go after the further two tries required for the all-important bonus point.

Within minutes of the resumption the signs were encouraging as winger Matt Jess collected a pass from Steenson before waltzing his way through a string of Worcester tacklers. Although he was felled not far from the line, the onrushing Welch was unable to collect his pass, knocking the ball on with the try-line in sight.

The let-off for the Warriors - who have now won only once in their last 36 away games in the top flight - was momentary as on 51 minutes the Chiefs struck for a third time. Having lost their own line-out at the front, the marauding White charged down Arr's intended clearance, before winning the race to the line to score his second of the game.

Steenson nudged over the extras to that score, as well as Exeter's fourth which arrived just before the hour mark courtesy of the in-form Dollman. This time Dean Ryan's side were guilty of coughing up possession inside the Chiefs half, allowing the home side to recycle the ball at pace to Johnson, whose charge down field saw him over the simple offload to his club-mate who did the rest - including a fancy swallow dive - to wrap up the all-important bonus point.

The contest was effectively over at that stage, but the home side were not finished there. Instead they continued to pick away at the wounded Warriors, adding two more tries through Welch and Thomas before the final whistle.

Lock Welch claimed his first of the season as he was able to round off another powerful attacking assault from the Chiefs in the left-hand corner; then a dazzling display of footwork - more akin to BBC's Strictly, rather than that of Sandy Park - saw emerging fly-half Slade create the opening for fellow replacement Thomas to scamper in under the posts for try number six.

Even then it could well have been worse for the Midlanders as a clever chip-and-chase over the top from Jess saw him narrowly miss out in the ensuing sprint race to opposition flyer Lemi.

For Jess and the Chiefs it hardly mattered as the hard work of the first half paved the way for the second half demolition. Next up for Exeter is Friday's trip to Sale Sharks and the chance to further enhance their top four credentials.

Chiefs: P Dollman; F Vainikolo, J Shoemark, S Hill, M Jess, G Steenson (H Slade 67), D Lewis (H Thomas 57); B Sturgess (B Moon 56), J Yeandle (C Whitehead 55), H Tui (A Brown 63); D Mumm (capt, D Armand 65), D Welch; T Johnson, B White, D Ewers (K Horstmann 63).

Tries - White (2), Mumm, Dollman, Welch, Thomas; Conversions - Steenson (4), Slade

Warriors: C Pennell; D Hammond, A Grove, J Matavesi, D Lemi; I Mieres (P Warwick 55), J Arr (J Su'u 63); O Fainga’anuku (J Becasseau 55), A Creevey (C Brooker 57), E Murray (R O'Donnell 70); D Schofield (M Williams 48), M Galarzo; R de Carpentier, J Abbott (C Jones 37), J Thomas (capt). Replacement (not used): B Howard.

Penalties - Mieres (2)

Referee: J-P Doyle

Attendance: 7,074

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Sale Sharks (A), Aviva Premiership, Friday, November 1 (8pm)