Amlin Challenge Cup: Cavalieri Prato 10-50 Exeter

Aly Muldowney scored his first Chiefs try as Exeter cut loose in the second half

Exeter remain on course to finish top of pool four in the Challenge Cup with a bonus-point win over Cavalieri Prato.

Gareth Steenson kicked the Chiefs to an early lead before the visitors won the first of two penalty tries before Kevin Barrett's score put them in control.

After the break winger Mark Foster stretched the lead with his try before Nicola Belardo hit back for Prato.

A second penalty try added the bonus point before Aly Muldowney, Pat Phibbs and Ignaicio Mieres crossed late on.

Exeter's convincing victory was marred by late injuries to Josh Tatupu and Jack Nowell who were both stretchered off the field.

The result sets up a winner-takes-all showdown with other pool four leaders Perpignan at Sandy Park on Saturday.

POST-MATCH VIEWS

Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter told BBC Radio Devon:

"The tries we've scored today could be the deciding factor for us to get a home quarter-final.

"The game became ours just when we wanted it to.

"They made it scrappy for us, they made us fight for it."

LINE-UPS

Cavalieri Prato: Wakarua; Ngwaini, Von Grumbkov, Chiesa [capt], Tempestini; Bocchino, Callori di Vignale; De Gregori, Giovanchelli, Ryan; Nifo Tautua, Kolo'ofai; Petillo, Damiani, Saccardo.

Replacements: G Marino, A Lupetti, F Cazzola, N Belardo, M Frati, D Berryman, A Lunardi, A Borsi

Exeter: Dollman; Rennie, Tatupu, Dorrian, Foster; Steenson [capt], Barrett; Tui, Alcott, Andress; Bentley, Muldowney; Ewers, White, Phillips.

Replacements: Whitehead, Cowan-Dickie, Budgen, Baxter, Johnson, Phibbs, Mieres, Nowell.

Referee: Cedric Marchat (France)