Summary

  • FT: Bath 11-17 Exeter Chiefs

  • Two late James Short tries secured Exeter victory

  • England winger Anthony Watson made first Bath appearance since October

  1. Thank-you and a Happy New Year!published at 17:24 Greenwich Mean Time 31 December 2016

    Bath 11-17 Exeter

    Well what a way to end 2016's live Premiership coverage here on BBC Sport.

    Two late James Short tries see Exeter come from 11-0 down to beat bath 17-11 and get their first-ever Premiership win at the Rec. 

    There's a full report on the match here, and we're back next year with live coverage of the four remaining games in this round of Premiership games.

    Enjoy your New Year!

    Exeter celebrateImage source, Getty Images
  2. 'Exeter took their chances'published at 17:19 Greenwich Mean Time 31 December 2016

    Bath 11-17 Exeter

    Bath director of rugby Todd Blackadder told BT Sport:

    "For most of the game we played really well and felt really dominant. 

    "It's a little bit frustrating and that's life, but Exeter took their chances.

    "It's one of those games which we knew was massive, that's why we put everything into it. 

    "The guys really stepped up, we played really well apart from a couple of little moments."

    Todd BlackadderImage source, Getty Images
  3. 'Bath had total control'published at 17:14 Greenwich Mean Time 31 December 2016

    Bath 11-17 Exeter

    Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter told BT Sport:

    "At half time I was thinking what can we say to the lads? Bath had total control in most areas. 

    "We had to make a complete attitude shift and slowly that dripped in through the second half. 

    "It did feel like the momentum of the game shifted our way. 

    "The comparison was scary for about 50 minutes and when we managed to shift that balance the balance of the game shifted our way."

    Rob BaxterImage source, Getty Images
  4. How the league looks....published at 17:10 Greenwich Mean Time 31 December 2016

    Bath 11-17 Bath

    That win puts Exeter up into third place, leap-frogging Bath and three points off Saracens, who have a game in hand.

    Exeter face the champions next week, while Bath go to mid-table Newcastle.

    Aviva PremiershipImage source, BBC Sport
  5. Exeter beating all the top sidespublished at 17:05 Greenwich Mean Time 31 December 2016

    Bath 11-17 Exeter

    Exeter have the hardest festive period of anyone,.

    Last week they hosted Leicester, who they beat. Then Bath this week, which they have won out of the jaws of defeat, and then champions Saracens at Allianz Park next week.

    With the never-say-die attitude that they have, who is to say they cannot make it three wins from three?

    Bath v ExeterImage source, Getty Images
  6. 'Rob gave us a bit of a shouting at'published at 16:59 Greenwich Mean Time 31 December 2016

    Bath 11-17 Exeter

    Exeter winger and Man of the Match Jack Nowell on BT Sport:  

    "You can see how much it meant to the boys, how much we put into that game, espeically in the second half.

    "Rob (Baxter) gave us a bit of a shouting at, but we needed that, in the first half we dropped off too many tackles and in the second half we we really stuck it to them."

  7. Full-timepublished at 16:53 Greenwich Mean Time 31 December 2016

    Bath 11-17 Exeter

    That's it! It's all over.

    A first-ever win in the league at Bath and from 11-0 down at half time the Chiefs come back to win by six!

  8. What a finishpublished at 79 mins

    Bath 11-17 Exeter

    Can Exeter hold on? They are trying to run down the clock on a first-ever Premiership win at Bath. 

    For Chiefs fans this will be one of the biggest wins in their history. 

  9. Postpublished at 79 mins

    Bath 11-17 Exeter

    Quote Message

    When I saw those two front rows come on for Exeter, that was the change in the tide for me. The physicality from the Chiefs since the likes of Cowan-Dickie came on has just gone up a notch.

    Jeff Williams, Bath winger on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

  10. try

    Try Shortpublished at 76 mins

    Bath 11-17 Exeter

    Oh. My. Word. 

    They were 29-point underdogs at half time. Bath were 1/18. yet James Short has gone over in the corner after great pressure from the Chiefs pack and a lovely pass from Gareth Steenson.

    The Irishman then goes and sticks over the conversion - a first-ever win at the Rec for Exeter?????

  11. Another late, late show?published at 76 mins

    Bath 11-10 Exeter

    In the reverse fixture in October, Semesa Rokoduguni went over in the sixth minute of stoppage time to get a win for Bath at Sandy Park. 

    Could we witness something similar for the Chiefs? They do have an extra man.......

  12. Uncontested scrumspublished at 74 mins

    Bath 11-10 Exeter

    Nick Auterac has failed his head injury assessment so Bath are down to 14 men and with no more props available (he's the third to go off in this game for Bath), we have uncontested scrums.

  13. converted try

    Converted try (Steenson)published at 73 mins

    Bath 11-10 Exeter

    Steenson's conversion is good - we're in for a right humdinger now!

  14. try

    Try (Short)published at 72 mins

    Bath 11-8 Exeter

    James Short goes over in the left corner after amazing handling by Luke Cowan-Dickie. The England hooker initially fumbled the ball, but then recovered to get it out wide to the winger who went over.

  15. Still in the balance?published at 70 mins

    Bath 11-3 Exeter

    For all Bath's territorial advantage they have failed to score in the opening 30 minutes of this second half.   

    The Chiefs have hardly looked like troubling the scorers either, but if Exeter could get a try soon it would set up a grandstand finish to this one. 

    Tom HomerImage source, Getty Images
  16. So close for Bath.......published at 65 mins

    Bath 11-3 Exeter

    Phill Dollman's kick is charged down and Bath lay siege to the Exeter try-line. 

    Quick hands lead the ball out to Watson out wide but he is forced into touch a metre from the Exeter line by Jack Nowell. 

  17. Uncontested scrumspublished at 63 mins

    Bath 11-3 Exeter

    Bath have been forced to completely change their front row due to injuries in this game so far, so we will have uncontested scrums with Elliott Stooke playing as a makeshift prop for the home side.

  18. Postpublished at 61 mins

    Bath 11-3 Exeter

    Quote Message

    Jack Nowell against Anthony Watson is a great competition to watch. Both guys have been out for some time and they're desperate to prove a point, Nowell winning the first battle under that high ball. Nowell has been outstanding today and the stand-out performer so far for Exeter.

    Jeff Williams, Bath winger on BBC Radio Bristol & Somerset

  19. Penalty (Steenson)published at 61 mins

    Bath 11-3 Exeter

    Exeter win a penalty in the scrum and Gareth Steenson slots the three-pointer from 40 metres.

    Gareth SteensonImage source, Getty Images
  20. Another win over Exeter at the Rec?published at 59 mins

    Bath 11-0 Exeter

    Bath fans must lick their lips when they see it's time to host Exeter at the Rec. 

    In the seven seasons that the Chiefs have been in the top flight they have never managed to win in Bath - the only ground Exeter have never got a Premiership victory at. 

    The way this game is going that doesn't look like it is going to change any time soon.

    Bath crowdImage source, Getty Images