Sharks 16 Chiefs 18

Sale Sharks 16

Exeter Chiefs 18

Mark Stevens at The AJ Bell Stadium

Dogged, disciplined and delirious - just three words you could easily use to sum up the latest Aviva Premiership victory for in-form Exeter Chiefs.

Tasked with overcoming Sale Sharks on their own turf in Salford, Rob Baxter's side produced arguably their grittiest display of the campaign to earn a valuable four points on the road.

Unlike recent weeks where the Devon club have been happy to showcase their attacking prowess, this time they showed another side to their game as they dug deep into their defensive resolve.

Fly-half Gareth Steenson was ultimately the match winner with an unblemished six from six with the boot, but even he would say it was those around him that paved the way to this victory.

To a man, the Chiefs rose to the challenge to repel a lively Sharks line-up keen to build on last season's first-ever victory over Exeter.  Relentless in everything they did, the Chiefs were clearly focused to ensure there would be no repeat performance this time round.

After such a convincing display last time out against lowly Worcester Warriors, it came as little surprise that Baxter refused to tinker too much with his winning formula. Indeed, the only change made to the starting XV was an enforced one as winger Fetu'u Vainikolo was missing due to international commitments with Tonga, so returning to the fold was Welsh flyer Tom James.

Sale, on the other hand, were looking for a quick return to winning ways after they were handed a 24-3 reverse at Harlequins - and Sharks Director of Rugby Steve Diamond made three changes, all of them up front, as Vadim Cobilas, Kirill Kulemin and Michael Paterson were given the nod from the outset.

With personnel in place for both sides on a cold, Autumnal night in the North West, it was the Chiefs who were first to show as they broke the deadlock inside six minutes when the deadly Steenson landed the first of five first half penalties when Cobilas was adjudged to have pulled down an Exeter maul deep inside his own 22.

Exeter's advantage, however, proved short-lived as within three minutes the scores were level when former England international Cipriani slotted a kick of his own after referee Wayne Barnes deemed Chiefs prop Brett Sturgess had been the cause for a dropped scrum.

As the penalty count began to rise, Cipriani put the Sharks in front for the first time on 16 minutes only for Steenson to respond in kind with a similar effort of his own, this after Moldovan prop Cobilas became the first Sale name to be banished to the sidelines for a professional foul.

It was certainly a needless act from the Sale forward, but as the Chiefs looked to up the tempo in attack, so the Sharks struggled to cope with the pace and power of their rivals from the Westcountry.

Pressing forward in numbers, the Chiefs were laying down an ideal attacking foundation only for the Sharks to go and spoil it with some crude slowing down tactics. Thankfully, Barnes was wise to their tactics and having seen Steenson nudge Exeter back in front with a third penalty, the international official then used the advice of the TMO to banish Sale hooker Tom Taylor to the sin-bin for a late charge on Dean Mumm.

Steenson again made no mistake with the resultant penalty, much to the derision of the home faithful, but that was just the beginning of their woes as the towering Kullemin followed him to the cooler when he slapped the ball down from Dave Lewis as he looked to get the Chiefs back on the attack.

Yet again, Steenson's right-boot was fixed on the target and the Ulsterman made no mistake, dispatching his fifth successful kick of the night to give his side a nine-point buffer heading into the break.

Even then there was still time for another penalty opportunity - this time in favour of the Sharks - but Cipriani long-range effort from just inside his own half fell well short.

HALF TIME    SALE SHARKS 6        EXETER CHIEFS 15

Just as they had done in the first period, the Chiefs started the half strongly as they looked to make hay whilst they held the upper hand on the numbers front. A solid scrum inside three minutes soon brought a chance, but this time the Chiefs opted not for the posts, but instead a kick to the corner.

It was a bold and confident statement of intent from the Chiefs, but the move sadly backfired as the Sharks rallied defiantly in defence to quell the Exeter surge.

With the threat countered, the Sharks - now back up to their full quota of personnel - took the lead to showcase their attacking prowess. Full-back Rob Miller set the tone with a crafty break through the middle of the Exeter midfield, but he was felled at the death by an excellent saving tackle from opposite number Phil Dollman.

Sale had some momentum at last and having seen that chance come and go, they quickly recycled the ball wide to the right touchline, only for the experienced Mark Cueto to knock on with the try-line in sight.

As the natives grew restless with the officiating of Barnes, so the Chiefs looked to take the heat out of the home charge. Luke Arscott (pictured) was introduced for his first appearance of the season in place of Sam Hill; whilst Alex Brown was thrown into the heat of battle in place of Hoani Tui.

Despite the changes, the Chiefs were standing firm in the face of a heavy home onslaught. The 'Bosh Brothers' of Tuitupou and Leota did their best to punch holes into the Exeter line, but each time they were being met by a stubborn 'white wall' that was being superbly marshalled by Steenson and Jason Shoemark.

Arscott's introduction not only added vital experience to the Exeter back division in the last quarter, but his tactical acumen with a series of clever kicks in behind allowed the Chiefs to gain vital territory.

It was impressive stuff from Baxter's side who, as the half continued, began to get a grip of proceedings. The ever-willing Tom Johnson and Dave Ewers were particularly prominent up front; whilst wingers Matt Jess and James were never far from the action as the Chiefs looked to find a way over the whitewash.

With defences ruling the roost on both sides, it took until five minutes from time for the first points of the second half to be scored. Having pressed hard with a series of attacking waves, the Sharks got the penalty to put them to within bonus point range. Cipriani again stepped forward and this time he made no mistake, plundering his effort between the posts to make it a six-point game again.

But no sooner had the Northerners given themselves a scent of victory, they immediately shot themselves in the foot as Tom Arscott was deemed to have held on in the tackle as he looked to clear his lines. The mistake gifted Steenson yet another opportunity which, as you guessed, he did not disappoint with.

Even then we still had time for a bit more drama as the predatory Sharks again looked to salvage something from the night. Throwing caution to the wind, they nosed their way back down field and into enemy territory - eventually working the ball from one side of the field to the other where the experienced Cueto was waiting to squeeze over in the corner.

Initially Barnes was unsure as to whether the Premiership's leading try-scorer of all time had done enough, but having consulted with those in the TV trucks, the score was awarded and Cipriani banged over a testing touchline conversion to set up a nervy final minute.

The Chiefs, however, were not to be denied and having restarted with a lengthy punt into the Sale 22, a quick bit of kick tennis on either side was brought to an end when Cipriani kicked aimlessly down field. Luke Arscott gleefully accepted the loose ball before dispatching it high into the main stand, much to the delight of the travelling Tribe.

The victory - Exeter's fifth in seven Premiership starts this season - means they will head into the latest league break nicely positioned in the top four and with the chance to really attack the upcoming LV= Cup.

Sharks: R Miller; T Arscott, J Leota, S Tuitupou, M Cueto; D Cipriani, D Peel (W Cliff 64); E Lewis-Roberts (R Harrison 59), T Taylor (M Jones 58), V Cobilas (H Thomas 58); K Kulemin (D Seymour 58), A Ostrikov (J Mills 59); M Paterson, D Braid (capt, A Forsyth 66), M Easter (H Thomas 25-30, M Jones 42-44). Replacements: J Ford.

Try - Cueto; Conversion - Cipriani; Penalties - Cipriani (3)

Yellow Cards: Cobilas, Taylor, Kullemin

Chiefs: P Dollman (H Slade 68); M Jess, J Shoemark, S Hill (L Arscott 58), T James; G Steenson, D Lewis (H Thomas 68); B Sturgess (B Moon 75), J Yeandle (C Whitehead 69), H Tui (A Brown 62); D Mumm (capt), D Welch (D Armand 75); T Johnson, B White (K Horstmann 75), D Ewers.

Penalties - Steenson (6)

Referee: W Barnes

Attendance: 6,153

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Harlequins (H), LV= Cup, Saturday, November 9 (3pm)