Chiefs 18 Bath 6

Exeter Chiefs 18

Bath Rugby 6

Mark Stevens at Sandy Park

Having taken an age to claim their first victory over Bath in the professional era last season, Exeter Chiefs made it back-to-back successes against their arch rivals as they maintained their unbeaten start to this season's LV= Cup campaign.

It was back in March - at the 12th time of asking - that Rob Baxter's side finally banished their Bath bogey when they claimed a 22-19 semi-final victory at the Recreation Ground.

Not only did the result ensure the Devon club booked a home final - which they would win a week later for their first piece of major silverware - but it signalled a potential turning of the tides.

Eight months on from that triumph and the Chiefs were celebrating once again against their near neighbours as second half tries from Carl Rimmer and Moray Low, coupled with a further eight points from fly-half Gareth Steenson, ensured an unblemished start to their title defence.

Having kicked off their LV campaign seven days earlier with a narrow 28-27 victory over Gloucester, it was a much-changed Chiefs line-up that took to the field for this latest encounter. Aussie skipper Dean Mumm was the sole survivor from that triumph as coach Baxter rang the changes in personnel.

Bath, who themselves kicked off last week with a handsome victory over London Welsh, were also able to parade a powerful array of talents that included internationals such as Henson, Matt Banahan, Henry Thomas and Peter Stringer, as well as a first return to Sandy Park for full-back Luke Arscott following his summer departure.

And it was Welsh star Henson who opened the scoring inside the opening three minutes, landing a routine penalty after Mumm had strayed offside trying to defend a succession of Bath attacks.

Moments later and Henson was looking to double his tally, this time trying an audacious drop-goal chance from just inside the Chiefs half. This time, though, Mumm was quickly on the scene, charging down his effort and leading the subsequent chase to the loose ball.

The Chiefs did their best to claw back the narrow deficit with a string of attacks themselves, but a combination of stout Bath defence and a flurry of handling errors was dampening their advances during the opening quarter.

At the other end, Arscott’s grubber kick in behind following a rehearsed Bath move almost paid dividends for Banahan, but England international Jack Nowell was back to cover the danger and the chance came and went in an instance.

As the half ticked by, so the contest continued to offer little in terms of excitement. Banahan almost capitalised for the visitors when he charged down a box kick from Chiefs scrum-half Will Chudley; while at the other end Nowell was almost the beneficiary of Exeter’s best move to date when he was bundled into touch just yards from the Bath line.

The Chiefs, playing in front of a record home crowd of 11,785, continued to press forward in attack as first Chudley created havoc off a line-out move; then Messrs Francis, Welch and Hill all looked to make inroads with raids deep inside the Bath 22.

Mike Ford’s side, however, were holding firm with an impressive defensive rearguard action, eventually turning over possession and leading a counter of their own through right winger Olly Woodburn.

Eventually, though, the home pressure finally told as fly-half Steenson dispatched a sublime touchline penalty to draw the sides level after Welsh referee Craig Evans had pulled up Bath for not releasing at the tackle just seconds earlier.

The Chiefs had further chances before the break - most notably from two close-range line-out moves - but again Bath repelled their advances to leave the game deadlocked at the break.

HALF TIME EXETER CHIEFS 3 BATH RUGBY 3

With little to choose between either side in the opening half, it was Bath who again started the brighter on the resumption as they set about restoring their lead with a spell of early pressure.

But just as Bath had done in the opening 40 minutes, Exeter’s defence was proving just as miserly as they soaked up Bath’s advances, before breaking out themselves through the lively Nowell on the right flank.

It proved a momentary let-off for the Chiefs, who fell behind on 53 minutes when Henson thundered over a second successful penalty after opposite number Steenson was adjudged to have not rolled away from the tackle zone.

The former British & Irish Lions playmaker than had another chance to add to his tally when Tomas Francis was deemed the guilty culprit at the breakdown. This time, though, his long-range punt cannoned back off the crossbar and the Chiefs were able to clear their lines.

With Baxter conveying the proverbial 'pineapple' from the stands to his players via his pitchside team, the Chiefs duly made the most of Henson’s missed opportunity by turning defence into attack with deadly effect.

Slade’s booming clearance not only won vital territory for the home side, but when Richard Lane knocked on just metres from his own line, it also offered Baxter’s men the perfect attacking platform. The initial scrum collapsed in a heap, but the re-set saw the Chiefs eight combine as one to win themselves a penalty. That was duly kicked to the corner and from the resultant line-out drill, it was replacement Rimmer who was able to power over the whitewash for his second try of the campaign that Steenson duly converted with aplomb.

In front for the first time in the contest, the Chiefs - aided by a few fresh faces from the bench - looked to press home their authority in the last quarter. Slade caused havoc with one adventurous escapade from inside his own half, while Mumm also went close only to spill the ball just yards out following a heavy collision.

Bath looked to respond in kind but there efforts were met by a steely Exeter resistance which, with three minutes remaining, saw them seal victory when Scottish international Low (pictured) burrowed his way over for his maiden score in Chiefs colours.

Steenson saw the testing touchline conversion drift wide, but he made amends with the very last kick of the game as he drilled the final nail into Bath's coffin with a second successful penalty.

So, after a month of European and domestic Cup action, the Chiefs will head back into the Premiership knowing not only do they top both of their Cup groups, but they have genuine momentum behind them as they prepare for 'Friday Night Lights' against the champion Saints at Franklin's Gardens.
Chiefs: B McGuigan; J Nowell, H Slade (A Hughes 78), S Hill (I Whitten 65), M Jess; G Steenson, W Chudley (H Thomas 56); B Moon (C Rimmer 54), J Yeandle (L Cowan-Dickie 66), T Francis (M Low 56); D Mumm (capt), D Welch (R Caldwell 56); D Ewers (B White 20-26, 36), D Armand, T Waldrom.

Tries - Rimmer, Low; Conversion - Steenson; Penalties - Steenson (2)

Bath: L Arscott; O Woodburn, M Banahan, O Devoto, R Lane (M Clark 63, G Wacokecoke); G Henson, M Young; N Catt (N Auterac 56), R Batty (T Dunn 56), H Thomas (K Palma-Newport 65); D Day, C Ewels (capt, T Ellis 55); D Sisi, M Northcote-Green, L Houston. Replacement (not used): S Hooper.

Penalties - Henson (2)

Referee: B Whitehouse (WRU)

Attendance: 11,785

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Northampton Saints (A), Aviva Premiership, Friday, November 14 (7:45pm)