Chiefs 31 Wasps 15

Exeter Chiefs 31

Wasps 15

By Mark Stevens at Sandy Park

Whilst sporting headline makers will no doubt be keeping close tabs on this year's Formula One finale this weekend - here in Devon it was Exeter Chiefs who moved into pole position of the Aviva Premiership with a fine victory over visiting Wasps.

Rob Baxter's clocked up their sixth league win of the season to leapfrog defending champions Northampton Saints - who play Saracens tomorrow - at the top of the table.

A first half try double from Cornishman Jack Nowell, plus another touchdown for the free-scoring Thomas Waldrom, proved the highlights for the home side, whose remainder of the points came courtesy of the boot of Irishman Gareth Steenson.

Wasps countered with tries of their own from Rob Miller and Tom Lindsay, as well as kicks from Andy Goode and Alex Lozowoski, but it was never enough to thwart the on-song Chiefs.

After downing reigning champions Northampton Saints on their own turf the week previous, it was no real surprise that Baxter opted to make little to change his winning formula. Up front Dave Ewers was the sole change as he came in for Ben White - and prior to kick-off centre Sam Hill was forced to pull out of the action after tweaking a groin. Irishman Ian Whitten was promoted from the bench with Adam Hughes filling the vacant spot.

Wasps, meanwhile, arrived in Devon on the back of a thumping 71-7 victory against lowly London Welsh. However, they too were forced to make changes - all of them coming in the pack - where Lorenzo Cittadini, Bradley Davies and Sam Jones were handed starts.

It was, however, the Chiefs who wasted little time in setting the tone, taking just three minutes to claim the first of their tries. Strong build-up play from the Exeter pack saw them punch their way deep into the Wasps half from where the electric Will Chudley was able to snipe off a ruck before releasing Nowell for his opening try, which Steenson duly converted from wide on the right touchline.

The visitors countered within minutes thanks to a penalty from Goode, but no sooner had they cut the deficit the Chiefs responded in kind with a kick of their own as Steenson punished Dai Young’s men for not releasing at the tackle following decent attacking raids from Luke Cowan-Dickie and Waldrom (pictured).

Again, though, there was a response from Wasps as quick-thinking from No.8 Nathan Hughes saw him link with Joe Simpson and when he was felled; the visitors cleverly worked the ball to the right at pace where full-back Miller was able to cross with ease for the score that went unconverted.

It was end-to-end stuff from both sides in the opening quarter, but it was the Chiefs who were proving more clinical in attack as Steenson extended their lead with a second penalty to make it 13-8.

At the other end, Wasps looked to hit back as a clever break through the middle from skipper Chris Bell almost released Sailosi Tagicakibau, but the Chiefs scrambled well in defence and they were able to withhold the threat without too many issues.

The remainder of the half, however, belonged to the Chiefs as they eased into a 17-point lead by the turn with two more converted tries.

Cornishman Nowell was again the beneficiary on the half-hour mark as his dazzling footwork wide on the right saw him pick his way through the Wasps defence for his second of the afternoon.

Having not scored a Premiership try since April 2013 - ironically in the away game at Wasps - it was proving quite an afternoon for the England international.

The Chiefs were far from finished and having made a hash of one close-range line-out, they made no mistake with their second opportunity as Cowan-Dickie’s throw found Damian Welch, his fellow forwards applied the shove towards the line and at the bottom of the pile was, just guessed it, that man Waldrom.

It was try No.7 for the summer signing who, it has to be said, continues to prove his worth to the Chiefs cause. Steenson slotted the extras to put his side firmly in control at the turn.

HALF TIME EXETER CHIEFS 25 WASPS 8

As expected, Wasps came out firing on the restart as they looked to claw their way back into the contest. Fly-half Goode initially threatened with a close-range charge, but he was held up on the line by some stubborn Exeter defensive work.

It did, however, give Wasps a golden opportunity with a scrum just five metres from the line. Sensing they had the edge in the battle up front, the visitors looked to press home their advantage.

What followed, though, was nigh on farcical. A succession of five-metres scrum saw a flurry of penalties awarded against the Chiefs - as well as a yellow card for prop Tomas Francis - but for some strange reason no award of a penalty try.

Even the most one-eyed Chiefs supporter would have considered it quite a reprieve, but the home side made the most of the let-off, ironically winning a scrum by their posts to clear the danger; and then a second just inside the Wasps half that allowed Steenson to plunder a third successful penalty of the game.

Wasps, to their credit, refused to lie down and having themselves introduced a wrath of fresh muscle from the sidelines, it was replacement hooker Lindsay who claimed their second try of the game - converted by Lozowski - after referee Ian Tempest checked the grounding with TV match official Geoff Warren.

Any hopes of a late Wasps revival were quickly dashed, though, as Steenson’s metronomic boot landed another telling blow with ten minutes remaining when he slotted a fourth penalty after visiting lock Kearnan Myall had strayed offside in front of his own posts.

The kick ensured the game was all but done and dusted for the Chiefs, but the home side were now desperate to ram home the bonus point in the closing stages. Wingers Matt Jess and Nowell both looked to make inroads in attack, whilst Steenson almost found a way through only to be denied by some last-gasp defence.

With a minute remaining Exeter were afforded an advantage when Elliot Daly was the second player to be shown yellow for mouthing off following the award of a decision, but although Baxter's braves huffed and puffed in pursuit of the all-important fourth try, it was sadly not to be.

For the Chiefs, it's now onto next week and yet another home engagement, this time against Saracens; while for Wasps they will look to regroup against visiting

Chiefs: P Dollman; J Nowell, H Slade, I Whitten, M Jess (M Low 52); G Steenson, W Chudley (H Thomas 78); C Rimmer (B Moon 55), L Cowan-Dickie (G Bateman 55), T Francis; D Mumm (capt), D Welch; D Ewers, D Armand, T Waldrom (K Horstmann 64). Replacements (not used): R Caldwell, A Hughes, B McGuigan.

Tries - Nowell (2), Waldrom; Conversions - Steenson (2); Penalties - Steenson (4)

Yellow Card: Francis

Wasps: R Miller; C Wade (T Varndell 32), E Daly, C Bell, S Tagicakibau (C Davies 70); A Goode (A Lozowski 63), J Simpson; S McIntyre (J Cooper-Wooley 63),E Shervington (T Lindsay 59), L Cittadini (J Yapp 55); B Davies, J Gaskell (K Myall 62); A Johnson, S Jones, N Hughes (G Thompson 60).

Tries - Miller, Lindsay; Conversion - Lozowski; Penalty - Goode

Yellow Card: Daly

Referee: I Tempest

Attendance: 8,878

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Saracens (H), Aviva Premiership, Saturday, November 29 (4:30pm)