Gloucester 22 Chiefs 25

Gloucester 22

Exeter Chiefs 25

Mark Stevens at Kingsholm

Exeter Chiefs moved to the summit of the Aviva Premiership for the second time this season as another away-day victory proved sufficient enough for Rob Baxter’s men.

Ben White’s first half try, coupled with the laser-guided boots of Gareth Steenson and Henry Slade, proved just enough on the night for the Chiefs to sink hosts Gloucester at a packed Kingsholm.

The Cherry & Whites played their part in a thrilling encounter, claiming tries through Jonny May, Dan Murphy and Sione Kalamafoni, but it was never enough even though James Hook did his best to set up a grandstand finale.

Narrowly undone 24-20 by the Tigers in their last outing, Baxter tinkered with his line-up slightly handing first starts of the season to both Ben Moon and Damian Welch in place of Carl Rimmer and Ryan Caldwell, while on the bench the experienced Phil Dollman and England ace Jack Nowell were also included.

Gloucester, meanwhile, handed a Premiership debut to England Under-20s starlet Henry Purdy in the centre - and there were changes in the pack as Sila Puafisi and Tom Palmer were given the nod over John Afoa and James Hudson.

It was, however, the Chiefs who were first to show on the night. From the outset they quickly set about the Cherry & Whites with a lively tempo that brought them reward inside three minutes.

Strong running from the forwards created the platform and when a rogue Gloucester hand infringed at a ruck just on the 10m line, Steenson duly punished the hosts with one of his trademark kicks.

Moments later, though, it was the Chiefs who were to fall foul of referee Matt Carley as Irish winger Ian Whitten was sent to the cooler for a ten-minute stint after he was adjudged to have taken out opposite number Charlie Sharples under the high ball.

With the man advantage, Gloucester duly made their rivals pay as they countered to deadly effect following an up-and-under from Steenson. Still with plenty to do, they worked the ball wide to May, who just inside the Chiefs half kicked ahead at pace.

The England speedster tore after his kick at a speed of knots and even though Matt Jess was sprinting across to cover, numerous TV replays eventually went in favour of the home side.

Scottish international Laidlaw failed with the conversion to that score, but he made no mistake with his second attempt dissecting a lovely kick between the posts after prop Murphy had been driven over from a line-out five metres out.

It proved a costly few minutes for the visitors with Whitten watching on from the side, but having reduced the deficit with a second Steenson penalty, the Ulsterman was able to add a third successful kick on 21 minutes after Moriarty had checked the Chiefs playmaker as he looked to chip over the top.

Steenson’s metronomic boot showed no signs of abating as he levelled the game up with a fourth penalty after a big scrum in front of the notorious ’Shed’ was deemed to have been dropped by the Cherry & Whites.

Afforded a fifth opportunity at the target just before the half-hour mark, Steenson was this time unable to strike on this occasion as his testing effort from wide on the left touchline fell just under the crossbar.

It was the first time - in 15 attempts this term - that the Dungannon-born marksmen had failed to hit the spot.

However, it did not take long for Steenson to resume normal service as he slotted the extras to Exeter’s opening try of the night.

Having turned Gloucester over on their own scrum, the Chiefs used their own set piece to work a lovely opening down the blindside through Dave Ewers and Will Chudley, although the former was felled deep inside the home 22, the onrushing Damian Welch and Thomas Waldrom took up the charge before White was able to power over from close range.

The Chiefs were unfinished there and as the half drew to a close, they extended their lead to ten points when the impressive Slade plundered a sublime penalty from wide on the left flank after Gloucester’s big summer signing, Richard Hibbard, was the latest to fall foul of the officials.

The home side pushed hard in the dying embers of the half, but they were met by a firm white wall of defence from the Devonians.

HALF TIME GLOUCESTER 12 EXETER CHIEFS 22

As expected Gloucester came out for the second period determined to get back on track, but it was the Chiefs who offered the first threat after the break.

Having soaked up early home pressure, a clever counter from Slade saw him break clear, he offloaded to Welch who, despite missing the ball, saw the ball fall to Chudley who picked up and dotted down.

Referee Carley was unsure of Slade’s pass and having gone upstairs, the decision again went against the visitors and the scoreline remained untouched.

Gloucester threw on internationals John Afoa and Matt Kvesic to aid their cause, but the latter’s first meaningful action was to get sin-binned for a crude tackle on Waldrom. It allowed Slade another opportunity to find his mark and the young centre did not disappoint, firing over a penalty from just inside his own half.

With the natives growing restless at their’s side display, they were at last awoken from their slumber with a meaningful set of attacks deep inside the Exeter 22. Their efforts brought the reward of a penalty after the Chiefs strayed offside, but Laidlaw could not capitalise as he fired his kick wide of the near post.

Laidlaw departed stage right shortly after, while at the other end a cheeky chip over the top from Steenson saw Jess collect Sharples and drive him over the line for a five-metre scrum to the Chiefs. Sadly, the visitors could not capitalise as a loose scrum was turned over just yards from the home line.

Gloucester made the most of the let-off by trucking themselves back down field, where upon they won another needless penalty. Although the initial five-metre line-out was repelled by Baxter’s men, the home side drove inside with a succession of pick-and-go moves that resulted in a converted try for Kalamafoni.

Suddenly Gloucester had the bit between their teeth and when they were awarded a penalty with eight minutes remaining, Hook made no mistakes as he landed a quality kick from centre field to leave just three points between the teams.

As the volume levels intensified around Kingsholm, so Gloucester looked to seize the opportunity of claiming a late scalp. The Chiefs, though, were proving miserly in defence, soaking up the pressure before exiting with a series of long punts downfield.

As the ‘Tomahawk Chop’ increased in volume from the far side of the ‘Shed’ - not even a rare penalty miss from Steenson with the last kick of the game did little to dampen the spirits of the travelling Tribe.

Gloucester: R Cook (B Meakes 76); C Sharples, H Purdy (M Atkinson 53), B Twelvetrees (capt), J May; J Hook, G Laidlaw (D Robson 58); D Murphy (Y Thomas 58), R Hibbard (A Lutui 53), S Puafisi (J Afoa 45); T Savage (E Stooke 19), T Palmer; S Kalamafoni, R Moriarty (M Kvesic 45), B Morgan.

Tries - May, Murphy, Kalamafoni; Penalty - Hook; Conversions - Laidlaw, Hook

Yellow Card - Kvesic

Chiefs: C Botha (P Dollman 67); I Whitten (J Nowell) 53, H Slade, S Hill, M Jess; G Steenson, H Thomas (W Chudley 11); B Moon (C Rimmer 60), J Yeandle (capt, E Taione 65), T Francis (M Low 53); M Lees (R Caldwell 55), D Welch; D Ewers, B White (K Horstmann 53), T Waldrom.

Try - White; Conversion - Steenson; Penalties - Steenson (4), Slade (2)

Yellow Card: Whitten

Referee: M Carley

Attendance, 13,463

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Harlequins (H), Aviva Premiership, Sunday, September 28 (2pm)