Chiefs 30 Sharks 25

Exeter Chiefs netted themselves another five-point haul, but head coach Rob Baxter was far from happy despite seeing his side maintain their top two status with this hard-fought victory over visiting Sale Sharks.

The Chiefs survived a real scare from Steve Diamond’s side to record their 11th league win of the campaign courtesy of tries from Kai Horstmann, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Olly Woodburn and Don Armand, but those were the key highlights in a performance that Baxter insisted post-match lacked any real intensity.

Sale made the most of favourable conditions to dominate for much of the first half, claiming a converted try through winger Denny Solomona and a string of penalties from the boot of fly-half AJ MacGinty.

MacGinty would add to his tally after the break, but with the elements now against them, plus an upturn in fortunes for the home side, it was the Chiefs who ultimately prevailed in the end.

Returning to top flight duty after a fortnight of action in the Anglo-Welsh Cup, Baxter wasted little time in recalling his frontline stars for the visit of the Sharks to the Westcountry.

Helping to head up the home troops was Cornishman Jack Nowell, who was back in Exeter colours for the first time since helping England regain the RBS Six Nations Championship over the past seven weeks.

Otherwise, the starting line-up was largely unchanged from that which had returned home from Leicester Tigers with all five points in the club’s last Premiership outing.

Baxter knows his side will need to improve in the final furlong of the scheduled season, but in what is sure to be a race to the finish, his Chiefs are nicely positioned on the rails and set to make their final move.

for the full match report, go to http://exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/chiefs-30-sharks-25/

Pictures: Exeter Rugby Club/Pinnacle Photo Agency http://www.ppauk.com