Aviva Premiership: Exeter 19-10 Gloucester

Olly Woodburn is mobbed by team-mates after scoring Exeter's third try

No 8 Thomas Waldrom scored two tries as Exeter Chiefs beat Gloucester 19-10 at Sandy Park on Saturday.

The loose forward crossed the whitewash twice within the first 10 minutes to hand his side a 12-0 lead, but slippery conditions meant the Chiefs were unable to take full control of the game.

Olly Woodburn added a third try for the hosts while Charlie Sharples hit back for Gloucester as the Chiefs held out for a win that cements them in second place in the Aviva Premiership.

Gloucester only had themselves to blame for a first half riddled with mistakes, as they struggled to fight their way back into the game after the break.

Gloucester's decision to play into the wind in the first period proved their undoing as Exeter were rewarded with their first try after six minutes. James Hook's clearance was charged down by Julian Salvi and Waldrom dribbled the ball forward before dotting down untouched.

Gareth Steenson added the extras and was lining up another conversion shortly thereafter. The home side employed a 13-man maul on the back of a lineout, which proved too powerful for Gloucester to deal with as Waldrom crashed over for his second try - this time Steenson failed with the conversion attempt.

Rob Cook then slipped up when trying to claim a Gareth Steenson kick in his own 22 as Woodburn pounced to take the game away from Gloucester with a 19-0 scoreline after 27 minutes.

Gloucester muscled their way back into the game in the second half as a penalty from Greig Laidlaw got them underway. Hook then lined up a long-range effort at goal but sent the attempt wide.

The weather did nothing to improve the nature of the game or the plight of Gloucester, but Sharples was able to touch down for a try that was converted by Billy Burns with eight minutes remaining.

However Gloucester's comeback ended there as the Chiefs held out for an important win that sees them claw towards first place in the Premiership after Saracens lost to Harlequins in Twickenham.