Warriors 33 Chiefs 38

Worcester Warriors 33

Exeter Chiefs 38

Mark Stevens at Sixways

Games between Worcester Warriors and Exeter Chiefs at Sixways should now come with a Government health warning, such is the heart-stopping ways these games tend to end.

Two seasons ago the Chiefs celebrated qualifying for Heineken Cup rugby when they scored two tries in a dramatic final few minutes.

Last year - in a case of history seemingly repeating itself - Rob Baxter’s side nabbed another last-gasp success thanks to a touchdown from Aussie star Dean Mumm.

This time round, the Chiefs maintained their 100 per cent record over the Warriors in the top flight as they held firm to withstand a late attacking onslaught from Dean Ryan’s desperate Worcester side.

Tries from Jack Yeandle (2), Dave Lewis, Sam Hill and Gareth Steenson, who also weighed in with 13 points from the boot, gave the Chiefs a vital victory in their quest to reach next season’s European Champions Cup.

However, they were made to fight all the way by the never-say-die Warriors, who themselves countered with tries from David Lemi (2), Chris Pennell and Augustin Creevy, as well as three penalties and two conversions from fly-half Ryan Lamb.

Having been given a week off due to their exit from Europe, the Chiefs headed to the Midlands determined to get their campaign back on track after successive league defeats to Leicester Tigers and Gloucester in recent weeks.

Changes to the Exeter line-up saw returns in the back division for Steenson, Sam Hill and Fetu’u Vainikolo; while up front Don Armand came in for his first-ever Premiership start in the second-row, whilst ahead of him Alex Brown was given the nod at tight-head. Armand’s inclusion meant skipper Dean Mumm was shunted to the back-row alongside Dave Ewers and former Warriors favourite Kai Horstmann.

The home side, meanwhile, also made changes to their line-up that claimed a first league win of the season at Newcastle Falcons last time out. The Warriors drafted back into their ranks international stars Lemi and Euan Murray, while former Exeter flyer Josh Drauniniu lined up on the right wing on his 50th appearance for the club.

With their Premiership existence firmly on the line, the Warriors - as expected - came out flying at a sun-drenched Sixways. The Midlanders controlled the early exchanges and had the chance to claim the game’s opening points on four minutes when the Chiefs were pulled up for not releasing at the tackle. Sadly, Lamb could not capitalise as he shanked his kick from the left touchline wide of the near post.

Moments later and Ryan’s side came once again, former Cornish Pirates forward Sam Betty tearing through the middle before support from Ravai Fatiaki and Agustin Creevy got the Warriors to within strike-range. Again, the Midlanders could not make the most of their opportunity as Lemi’s solo burst eventually saw him throw the ball forward attempting to pass to Drauniniu.

Threats repelled, the Chiefs preceded down the other end of the field and showed how it should be done as they claimed reward with their first meaningful attack.

Steenson - who enjoyed a stellar performance throughout - laid the foundations as he burst through the middle to put his team on the front foot. Although he was downed midway inside the Worcester half, scrum-half Lewis collected from the subsequent ruck before darting around the fringes and over the whitewash for the converted score.

Straight away, though, the Warriors landed a counter of their own as Lamb made amends for his earlier miss when he landed a lengthy penalty after the visitors were pulled up by referee JP Doyle for being in front of Lewis as he looked to clear his lines.

However, Worcester’s woes all season have been their inability to defend their line for long periods and the Chiefs duly made them pay as they landed two quick-fire tries to give themselves some notable breathing space.

Tongan ace Vainikolo created the havoc for the first score, powering his way through the heart of Worcester’s midfield before combining with Armand who propelled the Chiefs to within yards of the home line. Although the African giant was thwarted, Exeter recycled at pace to Steenson, who simple pass allowed Hill to do the rest.

Steenson’s metronomic right boot added the extras to Hill’s score and one of his own that arrived on 25 minutes when he was able to apply the swallow-dive finish to another slick Exeter attack that had involved Hill, Whitten, Armand and Brown in the build-up.

Seemingly in control of things at 21-3, the Devonians were then rocked by a quick ‘one-two combination’ from their rivals. Full-back Pennell was the first to prosper, finishing off in the left-hand corner after the Warriors had created an overlap out wide. Then, out of nothing, Lemi got in on the act when he punished a turnover from the Chiefs by winning the foot race to the line having kicked the ball over the top when he gathered a Pennell pass just on halfway.

Now there were just six points separating the two sides as half-time loomed large on the horizon. The Chiefs, though, were not going to be denied and having seen a penalty sail just wide through Steenson, they wrapped up the bonus point score with virtually the last move of the half when hooker Yeandle emerged from a well-constructed line-out move proudly clutching the match-ball.

HALF TIME WORCESTER WARRIORS 15 EXETER CHIEFS 28

After an action packed first 40 minutes of on-field action, surely the second period could not deliver as much entertainment and excitement for the rival sets of supporters.

Wrong…….instead the two teams once again tore into each other as though their lives depended on them securing a result.

Lamb initiated the second half scoring with an early penalty - only for the Chiefs to reply at the other end with a fifth try as determined work from Ben Moon saw him slip two tackles, break clear before shipping inside to his front-row colleague Yeandle, who did the rest as he ghosted in under the sticks for another converted score.

The nip-and-tuck nature of the contest continued aplenty and having roused themselves once more from a slight slumber, the Warriors countered with a try of their own as they replicated a similar effort to that of the Chiefs in the first half as hooker Creevy burrowed his way over from a close-range line-out. Lamb again obliged with the extras to cut the deficit to just 10 points.

All the time, though, the Chiefs were happy to keep Worcester at arms length and having nudged themselves further in front thanks to a 25-metre penalty from Steenson just before the hour mark, all seemed to be going well for Exeter in their pursuit of dining at European Rugby’s new-look top table next season.

The loss of Armand to an ankle injury shortly after gave James Scaysbrook the chance to impress from the bench, but the experienced flanker fell foul of Doyle not long after his introduction and he was dispatched to the sin-bin for a professional foul.

The rising penalty count against the Chiefs was mounting by the minute and with the numerical advantage, the Warriors exploited space out wide to send Lemi scampering over for a crucial fourth try.

Lamb’s mixed day with the boot continued as he failed to land the resultant conversion, but he was still helping to pull the strings in attack as the Warriors looked to have the bit between their teeth.

Roared on by the home faithful, Ryan’s side threw everything - including the proverbial kitchen sink - at the Chiefs in search of landing a crucial lifeline. Pennell was thwarted first; then Dollman pulled off a terrific try-saving tackle on Drauniniu as he looked to gallop down the right flank late on.

It was nail-biting stuff for both sides as the game entered into it’s dying embers.

Worcester were still not finished and having cut the scoreline further with another Lamb penalty, they regathered Steenson’s restart in the final minute to launch one final wave of attack. Using the forwards to punch their way down field, the ball was fed back to Lamb, whose cross-field kick fell into the path of the onrushing Drauniniu.

Sadly, the Fijian could not collect fumbling the loose ball before being collected and bundled into touch by Luke Arscott. The chance was lost and with it Worcester’s hopes of top flight survival were all but diminished.

Points-wise there is still hope for the Warriors, but with Bath, Saracens and Gloucester to come, you kind of feel their survival chances are all but extinguished.

For the Chiefs, next weekend’s home date with Sale Sharks takes on even greater significance following this weekend’s results. Victory in that game and all of a sudden the European race hots up once more.

Warriors: C Pennell; J Drauniniu, A Grove, R Fatiaki (A Symons 55), D Lemi; R Lamb, J Arr; O Fainga'anuka, A Creevy (E Shervington 58), E Murray; J Percival, M Galarza; M Williams (S Taulava 58), S Betty (R De Carpentier 76), J Thomas (capt). Replacements (not used): P Andrew, R O'Donnell, J Su'a, P Warwick

Tries - Pennell, Lemi (2), Creevy; Conversions - Lamb (2); Penalties - Lamb (3)

Chiefs: P Dollman; F Vainikolo (H Slade 76), I Whitten, S Hill (L Arscott 66), M Jess; G Steenson, D Lewis (H Thomas 58); B Moon (C Rimmer 39-40, 59), J Yeandle (L Cowan-Dickie  59), A Brown; D Armand (J Scaysbrook 55), D Welch; D Ewers, D Mumm, K Horstmann. Replacements (not used): C Mitchell, J Phillips.

Tries - Lewis, Hill, Steenson, Yeandle (2); Conversions - Steenson (5); Penalty - Steenson

Yellow Card: Scaysbrook

Referee: J-P Doyle

Attendance: 8,820

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Sale Sharks (H), Aviva Premiership, Saturday, April 19 (3pm)