Second-half tries from Tom Johnson and Matt Jess powered Exeter to a 21-8 victory over London Wasps.
The two teams, neither of whom had anything but pride to play for heading into the encounter, traded punches in the opening exchanges, with Exeter heading into the break with a 9-5 lead courtesy of the boot of Ignacio Mieres.
It was the home side who showed the greater determination in the second forty, and they were rewarded with two five-pointers.
Rob Baxter's men have been one of the best stories of the 2010-11 Aviva Premiership campaign and ended it strongly after a blip in recent weeks.
Wasps opened the scoring through winger Christian Wade in the seventh minute but they gradually lost their discipline and the Chiefs assumed control.
Three penalties from fly-half Ignacio Mieres put them 9-5 ahead by the interval but Wasps hit back shortly after the restart when fly-half Dave Walder landed a drop-goal.
Yet Baxter has fashioned a side with guts and his men responded in highly impressive fashion to claim two well-taken tries.
In the 56th minute, flanker Johnson went over and Mieres added the conversion.
It got better for the men from Devon soon after when wing Jess scampered over the line in the left corner but Mieres again hit the upright with his conversion attempt.
Sandy Park's biggest crowd of the season - 10,522 - saw Exeter run out deserved winners over a Wasps side that have not won on the road since beating Bath back in November.
The scorers:
For Exeter:
Tries: Johnson, Jess
Cons: Mieres
Pens: Mieres (3)
For Wasps:
Tries: Wade
Drops: Walder
The teams:
Exeter: 15 Luke Arscott, 14 Matt Jess, 13 Phil Dollman, 12 Sireli Naqelevuki, 11 Nic Sestaret, 10 Ignacio Mieres, 9 Haydn Thomas, 8 Richard Baxter, 7 James Scaysbrook, 6 Tom Johnson, 5 James Hanks, 4 Tom Hayes (capt), 3 Hoani Tui, 2 Neil Clark, 1 Brett Sturgess.
Replacements: 16 Chris Whitehead, 17 Ben Moon, 18 Ignacio Elosu, 19 Chad Slade, 20 James Phillips, 21 Junior Poluleuligaga, 22 Gareth Steenson, 23 Jason Shoemark.
Wasps: 15 Richard Haughton, 14 Elliot Daly, 13 Ben Jacobs, 12 Riki Flutey, 11 Christian Wade, 10 Dave Walder, 9 Nic Berry, 8 John Hart (capt), 7 Sam Jones, 6 Joe Launchbury, 5 Richard Birkett, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Ben Broster, 2 Tom Lindsay, 1 Tim Payne.
Replacements: 16 Joe Ward, 17 Zak Taulafo, 18 Bob Baker, 19 James Cannon, 20 Joe Burton, 21 Jonah Holmes, 22 Seb Jewell, 23 Josh Lewsey.
Referee: Llyr Ap Geraint-Roberts
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