Exeter Chiefs 25, Bath Rugby 18

Exeter Chiefs rediscovered their winning formula for the first time in a month, but they were made to fight all the way in the defence of their Premiership Rugby Cup crown by visiting Bath Rugby.

Halloween may have been at the start of the week, but Ricky Pellow's side were given a second half fright as the visitors produced a powerful fightback to leave the majority inside Sandy Park sweating until the final whistle.

The Chiefs had looked good value up until the hour mark, leading through tries from James Short, Ollie Devoto and Tom O’Flaherty and the boot of full-back Joe Simmonds. However, Bath were refusing to lie down in this hard-fought derby tussle.

Hooker Ross Batty had claimed Bath's opening try on the stroke of half time - and when winger Jack Wilson helped himself to a brace dying the second half - there was genuine concern within the home ranks that the visitors could sneak something from their journey west.

Thankfully, the Chiefs had just enough in the tank, Harvey Skinner's late penalty helping ease the nerves amongst the near capacity crowd.

Having kicked off their Cup defence with a share of the spoils in Newcastle, the Chiefs stuck with a largely unchanged starting line-up for the visit of Bath, the side they defeated back in March too lift the trophy for a second time. Into the pack came Jack Innard and James Freeman, while behind there were starts for Jack Maunder, Devoto, Short and Simmonds.

The visitors, meanwhile, were looking to bounce back from their opening round defeat at home to Harlequins. Wales and British Lions centre Jamie Roberts and England lock Dave Attwood were both added to their mix, whilst on the bench there was additional firepower in the shape of England's Sam Underhill and Samoa's Kahn Fotuali'i.

For the full match report go to https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/chiefs-25-bath-18