Ealing and Exeter make Premiership Cup semi-finals

Tom Collins (centre) scored two tries to help Championship side Ealing upset Premiership Northampton Saints

Exeter Chiefs will host Championship leaders Ealing Trailfinders in the semi-final of the Premiership Rugby Cup after both sides came through their last-eight ties.

The Chiefs demolished Sale 50-14 at Sandy Park, scoring four first-half tries through Josh Hodge, Paul Brown-Bampoe and two from Tom Wyatt.

Sale responded through Arron Reed's effort before further tries from Brown-Bampoe, Greg Fisilau and Jacques Vermuelen put the match beyond the visitors.

Ealing shocked the Saints, who made six changes for the match, to win 43-26 in an exciting game at Franklin's Gardens.

In a breathless first half, the teams exchanged scores before efforts from George Davis and Reuben Bird-Tulloch put the visitors up by 10 points at the break.

Following Iakopo Mapu's red card, Ealing scored further tries through Tom Collins and Angus Kernohan before James Ramm grabbed a consolation score for the Saints by completing his hat-trick.

Following their respective victories over Gloucester and Harlequins on Friday night, Newcastle will host Bath in the other semi-final, with both ties due to take place on Saturday, 8 March.

Ealing started full of purpose against their more illustrious opponents, scoring two early tries.

After repeated phases, Lefty Zigiriadis powered over from close range before Tobi Wilson broke down the wing to release the former Saints player Collins to dot down.

Northampton responded quickly, with Rory Hutchinson feeding the rampaging George Hendy, who shrugged off Ealing defenders to reach out and plant the ball over the line.

Following Bird-Tulloch's yellow card for a deliberate knock-on, Saints struck again with Hendy once again in the action before offloading to Ramm to go over for the Saints' second score.

James Ramm powers over for the Northampton Saints during their loss at home to Ealing

Ealing restored their lead with a Dan Jones penalty before Ramm struck again following a break from Tom James.

Davis then replied for the visitors with a close range effort before Bird-Tulloch secured Ealing's fourth try, accelerating through a gap in the Saints defence to waltz over.

Things went from bad to worse for Saints when Mapu was sent-off for a high tackle on Mike Willemse, before Collins secured his second try following a precise chip over the top from Wilson.

Kernohan added a sixth score for the away side before Ramm's third try restored some semblance of pride for the home team.

The result sees Ealing reach the semi-finals of the competition for the second year running.

Exeter see off disappointing Sharks

Looking to win the competition for a second time in two years, Exeter got out of the blocks quickly against their northern opponents, scoring the match's opening try through Wyatt, following skilful build-up play from Hodge.

Sale were briefly back on level terms following Reed's burst down the wing, before Hodge cut a fine line through Sharks' defenders to restore the home side's advantage.

Brown-Bampoe added a third, outpacing the cover from 20 metres out, before Wyatt crashed over for his second, despite the attentions of multiple Sharks defenders, as half-time loomed.

Exeter continued their assault on the Sale try-line in the second half with Brown-Bampoe strolling in for Exeter's fifth just after the break, having been released by Hodge.

Fisilau and Vermuelen then forced themselves over from close range for nearly identical tries as the Chiefs hit 50 points, before Tumy Onasanya scored the Sharks' only points of the half with a try as the clock ran out.

Arron Reed's try briefly got Sale back into their tie against Exeter