Exeter sail past Sale

Matt Jess: Scored try which clinch bonus point for Exeter

Exeter kept up their challenge for a place in the Aviva Premiership play-offs with a comfortable 37-12 victory over Sale at Sandy Park.

The Chiefs moved up to fifth in the table after completing a league double over the Sharks, with the bonus-point win leaving them level on points with fourth-placed Leicester, who play on Sunday.

Phil Dollman, Richard Baxter, Nic Sestaret and Matt Jess all crossed the try-line for the hosts, while some relentless scrummaging secured a penalty try in the closing stages.

Replacements Luther Burell and Tony Buckley both came off the bench to score tries for Sale, but the Sharks had fallen far too far behind to attempt a serious comeback.

The home side got the first points on the board after seven minutes as centre Jason Shoemark laid the ball on for full-back Dollman to squeeze in at the corner.

Points

Fly-half Ignacio Mieres was unable to add the touchline conversion but did add a penalty soon after from close range and, 12 minutes before half-time, he added another three points from the tee.

The Chiefs then claimed their second try of the game as No. 8 Baxter picked up at the base of the scrum and found a gap to get over the line with Mieres adding the extras, making the score 18-0 at the break.

Exeter started the second half strongly but were unable to turn the possession into points until a quick tap penalty allowed them to work the ball wide through hooker Chris Whitehead before wing Jess found Sestaret for the third try, but the conversion from Mieres hit the far upright.

The Sharks finally exerted some pressure of their own, pressing the Chiefs' line where Baxter was shown a yellow card for a professional foul, but the seven-man pack forced Sale to concede a penalty and allowed the home side to clear their lines.

Exeter claimed their second try-scoring bonus point of the season when Jess broke down the right before finding Dollman, who had wing Gonzalo Camacho outside but elected to go back inside for Jess to touch down.

The conversion attempt from Mieres hit the inside of the far upright before going over to give the Chiefs a 30-0 lead with 24 minutes remaining.

Pressure

Exeter, now back to full strength, were then penalised close to their own line and after the kick to the corner replacement hooker Joe Ward was held up over the line.

But the visitors maintained the pressure and finally got some points of their own on the board when centre Burrell managed to get over the line.

Exeter were forced to play the final 10 minutes a man down when replacement prop Ben White was sent to the sin-bin, and the visitors took advantage to score another try.

The Chiefs held the ball at the back of a ruck over their own line and referee Dean Richards deemed the ball was out, allowing Buckley to score and Nick Macleod to convert.

However, there was still time for the Chiefs to push for a fifth try with a series of scrums under the posts leading to a penalty try which replacement Gareth Steenson converted.