Worcester 15 Chiefs 30

Worcester Warriors 15

Exeter Chiefs 30

Mark Stevens at Sixways

Exeter Chiefs maintained their lofty status in the Aviva Premiership as a powerful second half performance saw them to victory over Worcester Warriors.

Having netted first half tries through James Short and Ian Whitten, one of which was converted by Gareth Steenson, Rob Baxter’s side were unable to shake off the Worcester shackles.

Four first half penalties from Tom Heathcote ensured the two turned round all level at 12-apiece and although the Scotsman added a fifth kick early in the second half, it was scant reward as the Devonians finally kicked into gear.

No.8 Thomas Waldrom burrowed over from close range for his 28^th try in 41 Exeter appearances, before Don Armand wrapped up the bonus point with the fourth touchdown.

Steenson rounded proceedings off for the visitors kicking the remainder of their points to set-up a mouth-watering first versus second battle against Saracens at Sandy Park next Sunday.

With European matters done and dusted until April when Wasps lie in wait, the Chiefs returned to domestic duties intent on building on what has been an encouraging league campaign to date.

Returning to Sixways for the first time in two years, Baxter’s side were forced into a couple of late changes following a sickness bug picked up overnight. Skipper Jack Yeandle and replacement prop Alex Brown were both forced to miss out, so Luke Cowan-Dickie stepped up from the bench, Elvis Taione offered back-up at hooker, while Scottish international Moray Low came in to cover Brown.

Like the Chiefs, Worcester were also forced into change pre-match as former Cornish Pirates lock Darren Barry was omitted and up stepped giant Fijian Tevita Cavubati to partner former British Lions star Donnacha O’Callaghan in the Warriors engineroom.

Despite the re-jig in personnel, it was the visitors who started the brighter, breaking the game’s deadlock inside three minutes.

Having won a penalty on halfway, the Chiefs kicked to the right corner, creating a line-out move which they preceded to work back in field along their back division, Michele Campagnaro and Phil Dollman coming to the fore to set-up Short, who made no mistake with a slick finish in the left corner.

Although Steenson failed to convert, the ease in which the Chiefs cut open the Midlanders was certainly impressive and served as a timely reminder of what prowess lies within the Exeter back division.

It was just the start Baxter would have craved from his side, but the Warriors – as others have found out this season – are nothing but resolute and back they roared themselves.

Fly-half Heathcote cut the deficit with a penalty, awarded after the Chiefs had been adjudged to have dropped a scrum, and he repeated the feat midway through the half after Thomas Waldrom was singled out for straying offside in midfield.

Undeterred, the Chiefs soon settled back into their stride and having threatened with a series of close quarter raids, they re-established their lead with a sublime second try.

Crafting the score off another line-out move, Parling’s gather saw Chudley feed Short, he spotted a yawning gap and within a blink of an eye, his return pass to the pursuing Chudley saw him in turn feed the ball to Whitten who did the rest. This time Steenson obliged with the simple extras to make it 12-6.

But no sooner had the ‘Men in White’ got themselves back in front, they preceded to hand the advantage back to their rivals with a string of soft penalties.

Heathcote slotted two in quick succession to level the game up, then with the final kick of the half he had the chance to edge his side in front once more, but this time his laser-guided boot went wide of the target and the Chiefs were spared.

HALF TIME WORCESTER WARRIORS 12 EXETER CHIEFS 12

With Baxter using the interval to address his side’s penalty count (it was 8-2 against the visitors in the first 40 minutes), the Chiefs again started brightly on the resumption.

Poor play from the Warriors at the kick-off gifted Exeter a five-metre line-out, the results of which they were able to work back inside to win a penalty that Steenson dispatched from in front of the home posts.

Again, though, visiting cheers proved short-lived as within two minutes, Heathcote once again levelled the match with his fifth penalty, given after Alec Hepburn had floored the Scottish international with an unnecessary late hit as he looked to clear his lines.

The minor offences were now becoming more of an epidemic as far as Baxter was concerned as not only were they hampering Exeter’s attacking advances, but at other times they were allowing the Warriors to position themselves behind enemy lines.

Indeed, the Chiefs lived dangerously just before the hour mark when the Warriors worked the ball cleverly infield off a line-out move to Heathcote, whose pass to the left narrowly evaded the onrushing Cooper Vuna with the try-line beckoning.

Baxter’s response was to send on fresh muscle from the sidelines in the form of Messrs Taione, Atkins and Sam Hill. In an instance, the Chiefs reaped their rewards with a third try, converted by Steenson.

Declining a straight-forward kick at goal, Steenson’s punt to the corner set-up another five-metre line which, after one failed attempt, was recreated sweetly to propel – you guessed it – Waldrom over for his 11^th try of the campaign.

Although it was only a slender lead, the Chiefs were at last beginning to find their rhythm. With the pressure mounting by the minute, the visitors edged further in front with just ten minutes remaining.

Again swift work out the back from Dollman saw him arc around the back, before he offloaded to Woodburn who in turn fed Armand who, still with plenty to do, bulldozed his way down the right flank to score the all-important fourth try.

Even then the Chiefs were not finished as having positioned themselves again deep inside the Worcester 22, they fashioned themselves another penalty that Steenson duly drilled into the home jugular.

It was ruthless stuff from the Chiefs, who will now use the coming week to prepare themselves for the visit of defending champions Saracens to fortress Sandy Park.

Warriors: C Pennell; B Heem, W Olivier, R Mills (A Symonds 70), C Vuna; T Heatchote, L Baldwin (C Mulchrone 72); N Leleimalefaga (R Bower 70), N Annett, N Schonert (J Johnston 56); D O’Callaghan, T Cavubati; P Dowson, M Mama (M Cox 64), GJ van Velze (capt). Replacements (not used): B Sowrey, D Sanderson, D Hammond.

Penalties – Heathcote (5)

Chiefs: P Dollman; O Woodburn, M Campagnaro (S Hill 56), I Whitten, J Short; G Steenson (W Hooley 76), W Chudley (D Lewis 64); A Hepburn (B Moon 46), L Cowan-Dickie (E Taione 56), T Francis (M Low 70); J Hill (O Atkins 56), G Parling; D Armand, J Salvi (K Horstmann 70), T Waldrom.

Tries – Short, Whitten, Waldrom, Armand; Conversions – Steenson (2); Penalties – Steenson (2)

Referee: C Maxwell-Keys