Jeremy Guscott
Former England centre on BBC Radio 5live

"Bath probably have more X-factor players. The yellow card at the end was the big difference. Exeter got tired defending with 14 men. It's a good end to 2014 for Bath.

"Saints for me are the best side in the Premiership - Bath are second best and so far I haven't seen anything to suggest anyone is competing with those two."

There goes the full-time whistle and the victory is Bath's. I'm loathed to use the phrase 'Christmas cracker' - but it really has been a fantastic afternoon of rugby at The Rec.

Owen Williams' kick has brought Leicester to within a try of Sale, who will play out the rest of the game with 14 men after Will Addison is sent to the sin-bin.

Can Richard Cockerill's men end Sale's winning run?

Sorry, Exeter Chiefs, I think I just put the mockers on you.

Bath win the ball back from the visitors' line-out, work the ball across the field and George Ford sends a delicious long pass to Anthony Watson, who makes no mistake going over in the corner.

The fly-half converts, too, so it looks like Bath are heading to the top of the Premiership with some room to spare.

But Exeter have done so, so well there, a man light but still able to defend with enough tenacity and desire to win a penalty. They can't find a way of getting something from this match, can they? Into the final five minutes.

After that free-flowing first half, Sam Burgess would've been licking his lips at the prospect of getting stuck in. But, after another couple of scrum resets, in truth he was just about as involved on the bench as he's been since coming on.

However, they soon knock-on in the aftermath and now it's Chris Cook's turn to pop the ball in. Can Bath find that fourth, bonus-point-earning try?

Exeter are clinging on a bit now, and Mitch Lees is sin-binned for coming in at the side. The blue, black and whites are going for the kill here - but that's a terrific piece of defensive work and the Chiefs will have a scrum.

It's possibly the first moment of real class in this game, and it's led to a try.

Sarries fly-half Owen Farrell makes it happen with a delightful show and go. Suddenly it's two-on-two and Neil de Kock goes over in the corner.

Farrell converts expertly to give the visitors a 7-3 lead.

They go in search of an opening but Exeter's defence is resolute, forcing Bath back. However, another infringement, another penalty, and another kick to the corner...

This has been far from straightforward for Bath, who've really been made to work for their 10-point lead. Another line-out inside the Chiefs half means another rolling maul. The referee is imploring the hosts to use it, so use it they do...

Here comes Slammin' Sam. And it's Jonathan Joseph who makes way, so it looks like Burgess will again be used in the centres.

Don't forget, he scored his first try in rugby union in an A League game earlier in the week playing at blind-side flanker.

Jeremy Guscott
Former England centre on BBC Radio 5live

"The times Exeter have got into the Bath 22, it feels like 50% of the time they've turned it over. And that's the difference between the teams."

A game of nippy backs in the first half, a game of beefy packs in the second half. Bath scrum-half Chris Cook is forced to slam the ball out of play a couple of metres from his own line and Exeter will try a rolling maul of their own.

But, having gained a couple of steps at least, as the ball is worked back inside Sam Hill spills and the home side have the put-in.

A chink of light for the visitors at the AJ Bell thanks to Miles Benjamin's try.

Leicester back Mathew Tait, who earlier crossed himself, plays the ball outside to Benjamin and the former Worcester winger dives over the line - with the try given after consulting the TMO.

Freddie Burns then absolutely nails the kick. Game on.

And George Ford kicks those in his sleep. Probably. Bath are now 10 points ahead - will that be decisive?

The Chiefs knocked on in the tackle, however, so Bath have the put-in at scrum-time. And the the hosts' pack, boosted by the arrival of replacements Paul James and Dave Attwood, again has Exeter on the ropes and they win a penalty...

Credit to Bath, twice they've given away poor tries from their point of view and both times they've responded with one of their own almost immediately.

Here's another home line-out and another huge rolling maul. George Ford has the ball now, twisting away from the first tackle but he can't quite pick out a team-mate and the move breaks down.

Shortly after taking the lead thanks to Juan Pablo Socini's boot, Falcons think they have got the first try of this game as Alesana Tuilagi intercepts and runs in from around 60 metres.

However, after a lengthy deliberation from the TMO, the decision is no try.

Image source, Getty Images

What a heave-ho that was from the home side, pushing Exeter all the way back and England lock Dave Attwood has the ball in his hands as the Bath forwards pile over the try-line. George Ford converts and it's advantage blue, black and whites once more.