Premiership: Exeter 19-12 Sale - Chiefs edge to narrow win over Sharks

Fit-again Exeter flanker Jacques Vermeulen had not played since the Chiefs beat Newcastle last May

Jacques Vermeulen scored two tries on his return as Exeter Chiefs hung on to beat Sale Sharks at Sandy Park.

Exeter led 19-0 at half-time after two tries from fit-again South African flanker Vermeulen to follow Olly Woodburn's opener.

But despite having the wind against them, Sale improved in the second half.

Ewan Ashman got one back before fellow hooker Curtis Langdon earned a losing bonus point as the Sharks somehow kept the hosts scoreless after the break.

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Exeter were twice denied a try bonus point in the final 10 minutes when they had two tries correctly chalked off - the first by winger Tom O'Flaherty for an aerial knock-on, then again when Sam Skinner went over, only for the video referee to flag up an offside at the other end much earlier in the move.

And it was from the resulting Sale penalty that AJ MacGinty's boot kicked for touch to set up the driving line-out platform that earned the Sharks their consolation point.

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With the prospect of more to follow next Saturday at bottom club Worcester, Exeter have now racked up four successive Premiership victories since losing at home Wasps in late January.

They finished the weekend where they started it - in fourth - now five points behind second-placed Saracens but only two points separate the Chiefs, fifth-placed London Irish and sixth-placed Gloucester.

Seventh-placed Sale are only five points back ahead of next Saturday's home game against Gloucester, but their fourth straight loss to Exeter came at the further cost of injuries to flanker Cameron Neild, who was carried off, Cobus Wiese, Raffi Quirke and Coenie Oosthuizen.

By contrast, Vermeulen was playing for the first time this season, after recovering from two operation on his hamstring and he responded with two close-range touchdowns.

The first of them in the corner, then a second just before the break when Sale were down to 14 men after full-back Sam James was yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on.

This was also in the corner but Joe Simmonds kicked from the touchline, for the second of two successful conversions.

Sale regrouped after the restart to cross for their first try from Ashman on 52 minutes, converted by MacGinty but, despite chances at either end, there was only one other further score, from replacement hooker Langdon. Although MacGinty failed with the final conversion attempt, that deserved losing bonus point had already been secured.

Exeter head coach Ali Hepher:

"It was a good Premiership win against a very good side. It would have been nice to get the bonus point and deny them a bonus point as well, but to win was the most important thing.

"The first half was probably the best stuff we've played all season. To hit the ground running in that manner was outstanding. Our energy, our carrying through into holes was all there.

"Since the turn of the year, we've reset ourselves a bit. We dropped the Irish and Wasps games, but we we have got a few wins since then. We're scoring tries again, which is a real positive, and we have some good players to return."

Sale rugby director Alex Sanderson:

"Considering how we pitched up, I'd have taken a bonus point at half-time. But you can't be satisfied with losing bonus points, or the draw we had last week (against London Irish).

"We had a few changes in the pack and early injuries and a pack with two hookers, and we still looked the better for it. It was pure mentality.

"We said we would measure ourselves by the second half, and we were more in the fight. We will take it, but I'm not happy with it. We have to be better."

Exeter: Hogg; Woodburn, Whitten, Hendrickson, O'Flaherty; J Simmonds, J Maunder; Hepburn, Yeandle (capt), Street, Kirsten, S Skinner, Ewers, Vermeulen, Capstick.

Replacements: Innard, Kenny, Williams, Witty, Grondona, S Maunder, H Skinner Cordero.

Sale: S James; Roebuck, R du Preez, van Rensburg, Reed; MacGinty, Quirke; Rodd, Ashman, Oosthuizen, Wiese, JL du Preez, Ross (capt), B Curry, D du Preez.

Replacements: Langdon, McIntyre, Jones, JP du Preez, Neild, de Klerk, L James, McGuigan.

Sin-bin: S James (37).

Referee: Wayne Barnes.

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