Wasps 24 Chiefs 37

London Wasps 24

Exeter Chiefs 37

Mark Stevens at Adams Park

On the day when 35,000 runners took to the streets of London for the annual marathon, Exeter Chiefs showed little sign of fatigue as they produced arguably their best display of the season to keep alive their hopes of Heineken Cup rugby again next season.

Whilst hosts London Wasps withered in the heat of a pulsating battle, Rob Baxter's men duly rose to the occasion claiming maximum reward from an oustanding display at Adams Park.

Tries from Jack Yeandle, Jack Nowell, Damian Welch and Haydn Thomas, together with 17 points from the boot of Gareth Steenson, not only ensured Exeter of their 11th top flight win this season, but has set up a mouth-watering final day encounter against Gloucester at Sandy Park.

The Chiefs will head into that game knowing victory will definitely ensure them a place in Europe's top Cup competition for a second time, although should Bath lose away to Saracens that statistic in itself will become irrelevant and the men from Devon will progress.

Whatever the case, Baxter's troops will head into that tussle brimming with confidence having disposed of Wasps in fine fashion.

Although the home side countered with tries for Christian Wade, Hugo Southwell and Tom Varndell, they were never really able to handle the all-round game of the Chiefs, who have now won their five of their last six Premiership fixtures.

Having seen Bath claim maximum reward 24 hours earlier in their final home game of the season against Leicester Tigers, both sides took to the field knowing victory was a must in their quest to claim the final Heineken Cup place for next season.

Wasps, winless in their previous six encounters, welcomed back a plethora of international names into their starting ranks from that which had lost at Leicester the previous week.

Among them was Welsh international Jones, who was afforded the first chance of the game on two minutes when he was given a straight-forward penalty in front of the Exeter posts. Surprisingly, though, the normally deadly goalkicker fired his shot from the edge of the 22 wide of the right post.

Although the home side failed with their first chance, they made no mistake with their second when talented full-back Daly landed a long-range kick after Baxter's side were penalised for holding in on the tackle.

It was certainly a lively opening from Wasps, but they were soon stung by a ferocious Exeter response. First, long-serving No.8 Richard Baxter saw a potential try chalked off by the TMO for unclear grounding, before Steenson got his afternoon up and running with a penalty from virtually in front of the home posts.

The Irishman was then able to add the extras to Exeter's opening try on 13 minutes. Reaping the rewards of turnover ball on halfway, Damian Welch led the initial charge as he careered down the right flank, before the ball was masterfully worked back across the width of the pitch to the left flank where Phil Dollman and Luke Arscott combined before Yeandle burrowed over from close range.

If that was good, things got decidely better for the Chiefs as they added a second try just minutes later. With a line-out just outside the Londoners' 22, a clever move crafted on the training ground saw James Scaysbrook release Nowell, who cut a lovely line through the heart of the home defence to touchdown.

Steenson obliged with the conversion to that score, before adding a penalty as the men from Devon extended their advantage to 20-3 with 25 minutes played.

Wasps, though, are no mugs and with a rare counter of their own they cut the deficit with a try from speedster Wade, who was able to jinx his way through the middle of the Exeter rearguard and dot down under the sticks for Jones to score.

It was Wade's 11th try of the campaign - and the 28th from their deadly back three trio - that also included Daly and the league's leading try-scorer, Tom Varndell.

The score clearly ignited Dai Young's men who, for a period of five minutes or so, really had the hammer down in pursuit of further reward. Such was their confidence, they even declined a kickable penalty in favour of a strike move in the corner.

Thankfully for the Chiefs, they turned the ball over and preceded down field where they themselves won another shot at target. This time, sadly, Steenson's normally deadly right boot was just off the radar and the home side were spared.

HALF TIME LONDON WASPS 10 EXETER CHIEFS 20

On the resumption, the visitors wasted little time in getting into their stride adding a third try inside two minutes. Good clean up work from Nowell at a line-out saw him make the initial inroads, before the ball was worked through a couple of phases to Welch who, with a couple of defenders in front of him, swat away their challenges before running straight over the top of Daly and in under the posts for Steenson to convert.

Wasps needed a response of sorts to haul themselves back into the contest. Using their pack to punch their way into enemy territory, the home side won a succession of penalties, the third of which saw Exeter openside James Scaysbrook dispatched to the sin-bin for a professional foul.

Immediately the home side made their numerical advantage pay off as a scrum five metres out was worked back inside along their back division to replacement Southwell, who was able to touch down unopposed for a second converted try.

At the other end, Steenson saw a long-range penalty just float wide of the mark before the Chiefs struck with the all-important fourth try just before the hour mark. Strong running from Hoani Tui, Dollman and Arscott laid the attacking foundations and there was scrum-half Thomas, who was able to snipe over from close range.

Steenson's conversion stretched the lead to 34-17 before the Dungannon-born back landed another telling blow with 13 minutes remaining as the Chiefs look to hammer home their advantage.

Both sides took the opportunity to run fresh muscle in the final quarter, but it was the visitors who were controlling all facets of the game. Happy to keep the ball and run the clock, Wasps could do little but put countless defenders in the way of Exeter's sea of attacks.

To their credit, the home side defended valiantly and thwarted the advances of the Chiefs right until the final minute. After which, they won possession of their own and created the opening for winger Varndell to further cement his place at the top of the try-scoring charts with his 13th of the season.

Tommy Bell's conversion with the last kick of the game was scant consolation for Wasps, whose defeat means they are unable to dine at Europe's top table again next season.

The Chiefs, on the other hand, know victory at home to Gloucester in a fortnight's time will ensure Heineken Cup action returns to Sandy Park again next term.

 Wasps: E Daly; T Varndell, A Masi (H Southwell 44), C Bell (capt), C Wade; S Jones (T Bell 61), J Simpson (C Davies 65); Z Taulafo (S McIntyre 55). T Rhys Thomas (T Lindsay 64), P Swainston (P Taylor 43); T Palmer (M Wentzel 64), J Launchbury; A Johnson, J Haskell (S Jones 61, Haskell 67, Jones 70, Haskell 75), B Vunipola.

Try - Wade, Southwell, Varndell; Conversions - Jones (2), Bell; Penalty - Daly

Chiefs: L Arscott (H Slade 61-64, 79); J Nowell, P Dollman, J Shoemark (I Whitten 61), M Jess; G Steenson, H Thomas (W Chudley 64); B Sturgess (C Rimmer 75), J Yeandle (C Whitehead 64), H Tui (C Mitchell 64); D Mumm, D Welch; B White (D Ewers 58), J Scaysbrook (A Muldowney 75), R Baxter (capt). 

Try - Yeandle, Nowell, Welch, Thomas; Conversions - Steenson (4); Penalties - Steenson (3)

Yellow Card: Scaysbrook

Referee: W Barnes

Touch Judges: R Goodliffe & R Maybank

4th Official: JP Doyle

Attendance: 7,197

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Gloucester (H), Aviva Premiership, Saturday, May 5 (2.30pm)