Aviva Premiership: Exeter Chiefs beat Wasps at their Sandy fortress
Exeter stay unbeaten at Sandy Park this season and climb to fifth place in the table after a 30-23 victory over Wasps.
Last Updated: 01/12/12 8:26pm
Gareth Steenson and Luke Thomas exchanged early penalties before Steenson knocked over a 45-metre effort to edge the Chiefs ahead again.
The visitors continued to look dangerous as fly-half Nick Robinson put a grubber kick through but Tom Varndell was unable to collect. But the pressure continued as centre Elliot Daly burst through to squeeze in at the corner.
Thomas added the extras and then added his second penalty from 22 metres as the Chiefs strayed offside as they defended their line.
The home side then mounted an attack from inside their own 22 through Steenson, who raced away with centre Phil Dollman up in support to take on the charge - but was stopped 10 metres short. London Wasps scrum-half Joe Simpson was yellow carded for a professional foul at the tackle.
Exeter took advantage of the extra man and the scrum drove over the line with hooker Chris Whitehead getting the touchdown and Steenson added the extras to again draw the scores level.
Christian Wade put Varndell clear with a clear forward pass but with no TMO the try was awarded, to the disgust of the Sandy Park crowd and Thomas again converted.
Varndell was then forced to take the ball back over his own line as Arscott was chasing a kick ahead from centre Jason Shoemark. At the scrum Haydn Thomas picked up at the base and the scrum half went over under the sticks with Steenson converting.
With the scores level at 20-20 at the break, the Chiefs started the second period strongly but missed a chance to take the lead when Steenson's penalty from out on the right hit the far upright.
Wing Jack Nowell broke and then chipped ahead but was taken out by Daly and referee Andrew Small showed the outside centre a yellow card, Steenson's penalty putting the Chiefs back in front.
Still with the extra man the Chiefs kept battering the Wasps line, working the ball into the middle where Arscott perfectly kicked ahead for Phil Dollman to dive in at the corner. Steenson converted from the touchline before Wasps secured a losing bonus point with Bell's late penalty.
