Premiership: Bath 24-39 Exeter Chiefs

Exeter scrum-half Stu Townsend scored the Chiefs' first try at The Rec

Exeter made it six wins from their opening six Premiership games with five tries against a stubborn Bath side.

Chiefs were made to sweat for victory until the closing quarter despite Stu Townsend, Don Armand, Dave Ewers, Ian Whitten and Jack Nowell all crossing.

Bath led three times up to the hour mark after Rhys Priestland's try and 12 points from the boot of Freddie Burns.

Replacement Chris Cook added a second try late on before Joe Cokanasiga had a possible third score disallowed.

The victory moved last year's runners-up back to the top of the table and inflicted a first home defeat on Bath since Exeter's last success at The Rec back in March.

But it was Bath who started the stronger when Priestland got on the end of a clever kick over Exeter's defensive line from Semesa Rokoduguni.

The visitors responded when scrum-half Townsend intercepted Burns' pass on halfway and they led for the first time when Armand crossed for their second try.

It was crafted by an expertly weighted crossfield grubber kick from Gareth Steenson, which allowed the flanker to gather on the bounce just inside the touchline.

Chiefs led 15-13 at the break but despite having a man advantage when Rokoduguni went to the sin bin for a deliberate knock-on, Burns kicked two more penalties to edge Bath 19-18 in front.

Exeter's pressure finally told though with lock Ewers dotting down under a rolling maul, Whitten getting on the end of Nowell's assist for the bonus-point score and then Nowell himself crossing for the fifth.

Whitten saw a late yellow card for a no arms tackle, but Exeter have dropped just one point so far from the opening phase of the Premiership campaign.

Bath director of rugby Todd Blackadder told BBC Radio Bristol:

"I thought we really stepped up in the first 50 minutes, especially defensively and ball-in-hand, we played some great rugby tonight.

"It was just a couple of little errors where we gave the ball away and missed tackles and gave away turnovers that was the difference.

"We keep continuing to hurt ourselves a little bit, which is the most frustrating thing, but I can't fault the attitude or the effort.

"For the second week in a row, it's just skill execution and a little bit of game management that have let us down."

Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter told BBC Radio Devon:

"It felt like it was a game that was going to be very tight and I've got to give the players credit for taking it by the scruff of the neck.

"Were we at our best? No. Was the first half a bit patchy? Yes. There were some uncharacteristic things from us, but credit to Bath, they challenged us really well.

"We created pressure in the end though by taking the game on the front foot and getting tries on the end of a concerted effort.

"There were quite a few moments we didn't win tonight that I would've expected us to, so we'll talk about how we'll need to crank things up a couple of levels if we're going to be successful."

Bath: Burns; Rokoduguni, Willison, Vuna, Cokanasiga; Priestland (capt), Green; Catt, Dunn, Thomas, Attwood, Ewels, Mercer, Ellis, Faletau.

Replacements: Walker, Van Rooyen, Perenise, Stooke, Bayloiss, Cook, Wright, Atkins.

Sin bin: Rokoduguni (48)

Exeter Chiefs: Dollman; Nowell, Slade, Devoto, Cordero; Steenson (capt), Townsend; Moon, Cowan-Dickie, Williams, Dennis, Skinner, Ewers, Armand, Kvesic.

Replacements: Yeandle, Hepburn, Francis, Atkins, Lawday, Maunder, J Simmonds, Whitten.

Sin bin: Whitten (76)

Referee: Christophe Ridley (RFU)

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