Still work to do, says White

Exeter Chiefs are putting off the party until they have their hands on the LV= Cup trophy, according to Sunday's semi-final man of the match Ben White.

The Australian back-rower produced a standout display at The Rec, as Exeter beat Bath Rugby 22-19, despite a contest filled with expansive attacking and line breaks.

The match went down to the final minute, as Bath fly-half Tom Heathcote missed a last-gasp penalty which would have levelled the scores.

The result earned Exeter a date with Northampton Saints in next weekend's final at Sandy Park, but White does not expect home advantage to reduce their opponents' impact.

"It will be pretty good but we know the challenge will be unbelievable - Northampton are an amazing team," he said. "It will be a party if we win it so we will keep our heads cool, attack them and hopefully win."

Bath have been a bogey team for the Chiefs since the start of the professional era, last losing to Exeter in 1978.

And the omens were not good for Rob Baxter's side on Sunday, as the hosts scored the fastest try in LV= Cup history, Leroy Houston dotting down after just 24 seconds.

It began to look as though place kicking would decide the tie, with Heathcote sending each of his efforts between the posts while his opposite number, Henry Slade, struggled from the tee.

However, two tries for Exeter full-back Luke Arscott and a superb individual effort from replacement wing Fetu'u Vainikolo turned the game on its head - before Heathcote's decisive penalty fell narrowly short.

The Chiefs now have the opportunity to lift their first major trophy in the club's 143-year history but Aviva Premiership table toppers Northampton Saints stand firmly in their way.

"We made it interesting at the end with that kick but it is an amazing feeling," added White. "Rob (Baxter) sort of just said (at half time) we have got to be hungry for it - they were more hungry in the first half and we have got to be hungrier.

"We went out there and just took the ball away with a couple of great efforts by Luke and Fetu'u. We were just more hungry. It was unbelievable in that last 20 minutes - the stress levels. But our scrum was good in those last 20 minutes so we are learning - it's good."