Exeter ended a dismal run in the Aviva Premiership in clinical style as they put five tries past London Welsh in a 47-16 win at Sandy Park on Saturday.
Four tries in the second half saw Exeter shake off the challenge of Exiles and emerge comfortable winners.
Indiscipline from both sides kept the scoreboard ticking over during the opening exchanges.
Gavin Henson's penalty on three minutes put Welsh in front, and he added a second, after Gareth Steenson had briefly put the hosts back on level terms.
Steenson then struck twice more to put Exeter in front for the first time in the match, before the two teams traded further penalties to leave the Chiefs 12-9 in front.
The game's first try followed on 31 minutes, scored by Jack Yeandle following several short surges at the visitors' try line.
Steenson's conversion made it 19-9 and it remained that way until half-time.
A much livelier opening to the second half brought three tries in the first ten minutes.
Tom Hayes' effort on 44 minutes, converted by Steenson, put the Chiefs in a great position, but Welsh pegged the hosts back through a converted Phil Mackenzie effort.
Damian Welch's try on 51 minutes again put daylight between the sides, and this time Exeter were able to establish a foothold in the contest and pull away.
Sireli Naqelevuqi crashed over just shy of the hour, which Steenson again added to to make it 40-16, and the game was up for Welsh.
Jack Nowell rubbed salt in the wounds in the final ten minutes the hosts' fifth try, and Steenson kept up his excellent record with the boot, converting to bring the scoring to a close.
The scorers:
For Exeter:
Tries: Yeandle, Hayes, Welch, Naqelevuki, Nowell
Con: Steenson 5
Pen: Steenson 4
For London Welsh:
Try: MacKenzie
Con: Henson
Pen: Henson 3
Exeter: 15 Luke Arscott, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Sireli Naqelevuki, 12 Jason Shoemark, 11 Matt Jess, 10 Gareth Steenson, 9 Haydn Thomas, 8 Richard Baxter, 7 James Scaysbrook, 6 Ben White, 5 Dean Mumm, 4 Tom Hayes (capt), 3 Hoani Tui, 2 Jack Yeandle, 1 Carl Rimmer.
Replacements: 16 Neil Clark, 17 Ben Moon, 18 Alex Brown, 19 Damian Welch, 20 Dave Ewers, 21 Will Chudley, 22 Ignacio Mieres, 23 Phil Dollman.
London Welsh: 15 Tom Arscott, 14 Phil MacKenzie, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 Seb Jewell, 11 Nick Scott, 10 Gavin Henson, 9 Tyson Keats, 8 Ed Jackson, 7 Julio Cabello Farias, 6 Adam Balding, 5 Matt Corker, 4 Jonathan Mills (capt), 3 Greg Bateman, 2 Neil Briggs, 1 Franck Montanella.
Replacements: 16 Dan George, 17 Tom Bristow, 18 James Tideswell, 19 Martin Purdy, 20 Michael Hills, 21 Rob Lewis, 22 Gordon Ross, 23 Sonny Parker.
Referee: Andrew Small
Assistant referees: Andrew Pearce, Peter Huckle
Television match official: Matthew Peters
Comments
ArmchairGeneral says...
Well done chiefs. Exiles should not be in Aviva.
Posted 18:00 24th February 2013