Exeter thump Gloucester
Exeter Chiefs restored their lead to eight points at the top of the Premiership standings with a 46-10 bonus-point victory over Gloucester at Sandy Park.
Tries from Alec Hepburn, Sam Simmonds, Olly Woodburn and a Jack Nowell brace proved too much for Gloucester who scored through a sole Callum Braley try.
The champions remain on course to defend their title, having notched up their sixth straight win.
But it was Gloucester who opened the scoring, having won the penalty after a Chiefs' forward pass and after nothing came of the advantage, fly-half Owen Williams successfully added the three points for a sixth-minute 3-0 lead.
The hosts responded in the 18th minute when Hepburn twisted and turned to burst over after a series of powerful carries from the Chiefs' forwards. Number ten Joe Simmonds added the extras for a 7-3 lead.
Soon after, it was 12-3 when Sam Simmonds went over at the back of a classic Chiefs' lineout driving maul after they had won the penalty for a high tackle on Nowell and opted for the corner.
Joe Simmonds added a penalty before Ruan Ackermann was yellow-carded three minutes before the interval for cynically kicking the ball out of a Chiefs players' hands.
The Premiership champions still had time to capitalise on their numerical advantage before the break when Woodburn finished a move he started after the Chiefs' backline showed quick hands. Simmonds converted as the home side took a commanding 22-3 lead in to half-time.
Johan Ackermann's side made the perfect start to the second half. Inside centre Mark Atkinson sold Tomas Francis with the dummy before assisting Braley for the easiest of run-ins to the line.
The champions had their fourth in the 58th minute. Excellent work by Don Armand and Sam Simmonds at the lineout maul coupled with a lot of forward grunt stretched the defence. The ball was quickly spun wide where Nowell, on as a substitute, was on hand to finish on the overlap.
While Nowell's first was rudimentary, his second was anything but. Henry Slade set up the move with a lovely pass before the England international busted a couple of tackles before dotting down for his brace and a 39-10 lead after Simmonds' third conversion of the afternoon.
The icing was well and truly on the cake when Gareth Steenson pounced on the loose ball after the Gloucester backline had made a mockery of possession to hand his side a comprehensive 46-10 victory.
The scorers:
For Exeter Chiefs:
Tries: Hepburn, S Simmonds, Woodburn, Nowell 2, Steenson
Cons: J Simmonds 5
Pens: J Simmonds 2
For Gloucester:
Try: Braley
Con: Williams
Pen: Williams
Yellow Card: Ackermann
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Lachie Turner, 14 Ian Whitten, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Sam Hill, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Joe Simmonds, 9 Nic White, 8 Sam Simmonds, 7 Don Armand (c), 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Sam Skinner, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Alec Hepburn
Replacements: 16 Jack Yeandle, 17 Ben Moon, 18 Greg Holmes, 19 Mitch Lees, 20 Dave Ewers, 21 Stu Townsend, 22 Gareth Steenson, 23 Jack Nowell
Gloucester: 15 Tom Hudson, 14 Charlie Sharples, 13 Henry Trinder, 12 Mark Atkinson, 11 Tom Marshall, 10 Owen Williams, 9 Willi Heinz (c), 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Lewis Ludlow, 6 Ruan Ackermann, 5 Ed Slater, 4 Tom Savage, 3 John Afoa, 2 James Hanson, 1 Josh Hohneck
Replacements: 16 Motu Matu'u, 17 Paddy McAllister, 18 Fraser Balmain, 19 Jeremy Thrush, 20 Jake Polledri, 21 Callum Braley, 22 Billy Burns, 23 Billy Twelvetrees
Referee: Tom Foley
Assistant referees: Greg Macdonald, Paul Dix
Television match official: Claire Hodnet