‘I never feel comfortable’ – Rob Baxter

Although his team are 11 points clear at the top of the table, Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter said he never feels comfortable.

This, after the Chiefs pipped title rivals Bristol 25-22 at a windswept Ashton Gate thanks to substitute prop Billy Keast’s late try on Tuesday night.

A pulsating encounter enjoyed a suitably grandstand finish, leaving Exeter in overwhelming control of this season’s play-off race.

“I never feel comfortable – it’s too early to feel comfortable,” said Baxter after the game.

“Tonight showed that the players have got a really good understanding about how to win a game of rugby.

“We turned up and were physical, we turned up and worked hard. That allowed us to hang in the game, and we converted our opportunity at the end.

“To stay in the fight and come through it, I can’t credit the players enough.”

Bristol stay second and firmly on course for the play-offs, but an Exeter side showing 14 changes underlined enviable squad depth.

✅ Exeter Chiefs leave it late to pip Bristol Bears. #BRIvEXE
✅ Sale Sharks bounce back with win at Wasps. #WASvSAL

Read our #GallagherPrem round-up of Tuesday's action. 👇 https://t.co/sDjWacEs4w

— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) August 25, 2020

Tries by centre Phil Dollman and scrum-half Sam Hidalgo-Clyne helped take them 15 points clear before Bristol took charge with touchdowns from Piers O’Conor, Luke Morahan and Ioan Lloyd, while Callum Sheedy kicked two conversions and a penalty.

Sheedy’s opposite number Gareth Steenson, who finished with 10 points, kicked Exeter back in front, then Keast cancelled out Lloyd’s try and Exeter were home.

It ended Bristol’s run of seven successive Premiership victories and was their first league defeat since early January.

Bristol rugby director Pat Lam said: “Exeter played well and we fell behind, but we got back into the game and should have closed it out.

“We gave away some soft penalties, and they showed the quality side that they are.

“We will look pretty closely about why we didn’t finish things off. There were a couple of system errors, and they took their tries well and suddenly you are 15-3 down.

“We showed that when we got a chance to play our game we can be dangerous, but it was disappointing at the end.

“Every game I have been involved in against Exeter has been a one-score game. We will take the point (losing bonus point) and we now have another tough game at Sale.”