Exeter Chiefs 29-20 Bristol Bears: Exeter go top of Gallager Premiership after bonus-point win

Tries from Rusi Tuma, Ehren Painter, Tommy Wyatt and Josh Iosefa-Scot and nine points from Henry Slade's boot gave Exeter Chiefs a 29-20 win at Sandy Park to move them top of the Gallagher Premiership table after round four.

A hat-trick from Bristol’s Rich Lane and pinpoint accuracy on cross-field kicks from Callum Sheedy weren’t enough for Pat Lam’s side, who headed home empty handed.

Exeter initiated the scoring after only two minutes. Tuima was the scorer as he snuck over the line after a dummy pass and Slade’s conversion gave them an early 7-0 lead.

After a penalty from Sheedy, Bristol soon added their first try. For the first time of three, Sheedy linked up with Lane to allow the full-back to cross the whitewash after a well-timed chip kick put them ahead by one point.

Within ten minutes the same move was executed again, this time as Lane spun out of the tackle from opposite number Wyatt to dot down after another perfect kick from Sheedy. Despite the fly-half’s conversion attempt bouncing off the posts, Bristol had a six-point lead.

Exeter worked their way back into the game through Painter who muscled his way through the Bristol defence to cross the line before Slade’s conversion put them ahead by a point.

On the 30-minute mark Pat Lam brought on a new-look front row, but soon after they were down a player. After Bristol were warned by referee Hamish Smales for giving away too many penalties in the red zone, Thacker was shown a yellow card for being offside. Exeter headed into the break with both a one-point and one-man advantage.

Just as they had in the first, Exeter started their scoring in the second minute of the second half as Wyatt won the one-on-on battle with Joe Batley to cross the line from short range before Slade added a third conversion.

Before long Lane had his hat trick as the kick from Sheedy sailed over the head of Wyatt, the last remaining defender, before his opposite man ran clear to score his third. Sheedy’s conversion put Bristol back to within a point.

Replacement Dan Frost had an immediate impact for Exeter as he injected energy into their attack from the bench with a brilliant break, but his side would have to wait a little while longer for their bonus-point score.

It was Iosefa-Scott who scored in the 67th minute for Exeter’s fourth in as he put in a strong leg drive towards the line. Slade missed the conversion but redeemed himself in the 75th minute to extend their lead.

In the 79th minute, Bristol Bears had an opportunity to give themselves a losing bonus point from short range. Despite Sheedy still being on the pitch, replacement James Williams stepped up to take his first kick of the game. The ball went wide and sent Bristol home with nothing after a tight contest.

Exeter’s win moves them up to the top of the table with 15 points while Bristol remain sixth on 10 points.

Another home win for Exeter sees them top the table with their third five-point victory of the 2023/24 season so far. Josh Iosefa-Scott, who also scored in their 43-0 win against last season’s runners up Sale Sharks last week, scored the bonus-point securing try at Sandy Park in the 67th minute. Bristol’s position remains unchanged as they failed to gain any points, and they will face Sale Sharks at home next weekend. Exeter will travel up to face Northampton Saints, who currently sit fifth in the table.

A huge 80-minute performance from Exeter’s Rusi Tuma in both attack and defence saw him awarded a well-deserved Player of the Match award at Sandy Park. His work rate stood out in the bonus-point win, and his try opened the scoring for Exeter early on. Dan Frost was another player who stood out. The prop made an immediate impact from the bench with a blistering run and continued to spark attack for Exeter in his time on the pitch.

Exeter Chiefs: Wyatt 7, Feyi-Waboso 6.5, Slade 8, Hendrickson, Woodburn 7, Skinner 8, Cairns; Sio 7, Yeandle (capt.) 7, Painter 8, Tuima 8, Pearson 7, Roots 7, Vermeulen 7, Vintcent 7.

Replacements: Frost 8, Abuladze 7, Iosefa-Scott 8, Jenkins 7, Davis 7, Armstrong 7, Haydon-Wood (n/a), Hawkins 7

Bristol Bears: Lane 7, Heward 5, Vakatawa 5, Janse van Rensburg 6, Ibitoye 6, Sheedy 7, Marmion 6; Grahamslaw 5, Capon 5, Kloska 5, Caulfield 5, Batley 5, Dun 5, Harding (capt.) 5, Bradbury 5

Replacements: Thacker 4, Woolmore 5, Lahiff 4, Holmes 5, Thomas 5, Randall 5, Williams, O’Conor 4

After six phases of strong carrying from Exeter from the lineout, Tuima deceives the Bristol defence with a dummy to sneak over the line in the opening few minutes. Slade smoothly converts.

A high tackle gives Bristol a penalty and they plough ahead to the 22. They play on with the penalty advantage from the maul. Sheedy cleverly draws in multiple defenders before putting the chip kick through for Lane to dot down. Sheedy misses the conversion.

Sheedy with another cross-field kick and it's Lane again! He spins out of the tackle from Wyatt to get over the line for a second time after a perfect catch. Sheedy with excellent timing on the kick once again for Lane to score, but he misses the conversion as it clatters off the posts.

Painter muscles through the tackles after the quickly taken penalty to muscle over the line! He delays his drive and powers out of the arms of Bristol captain Harding. Slade puts Exeter back ahead with the conversion.

Hamish Smales sticks to his word after warning Bristol minutes previously, and Thacker is sent to the bin for being offside. Marmion then looks to have held up a potential Exeter try as he combines forces with Ibitoye and they have the goal line dropout.

Wyatt wins the battle with Batley to cross the line for Exeter's third, only minutes into the half. Slade perfect from the tee again to put Exeter further ahead after another perfect start.

The cross-field kick from Sheedy sails over Wyatt's head and Sheedy and Lane link up again for the fullback's hat trick! Perfection on the kick once again from Sheedy before Lane speeds away to finish the score. Sheedy gets the conversion this time to put Bristol within one point again.

Last week's try-scorer Iosefa-Scott powers over the line on the short side as he puts in the leg drive to secure Exeter's try bonus point!

Slade puts Exeter ahead and out of converted-try territory for Bristol with five minutes left on the clock.

A rushed penalty from Williams and he misses it!

- - -

TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media