Chiefs return to winning ways at Sandy Park

Exeter Chiefs returned to winning ways in the Aviva Premiership by turning in a stellar five-star display against visiting London Welsh at Sandy Park.

Hurting following a five-game winless streak, Rob Baxter’s side responded in the best possible fashion as they posted their biggest-ever total in the top flight against the Exiles.

Tries from Jack Yeandle, Tom Hayes, Damian Welch, Sireli Naqelevuki and Jack Nowell were the undoubted highlights, but fly-half Gareth Steenson again underlined his worth to the cause as he struck 22 points with an unblemished record from the kicking tee.

Welsh did their best to contain the Chiefs, particularly in the first period as three Gavin Henson penalties kept them in touch, but even though Henson added the extras to Phil MacKenzie’s second half score, last season’s Championship victors were well beaten by the Westcountry outfit.

Struggling to find their form in recent weeks, the Chiefs hoped a return to home comforts would provide them with the necessary base from which to get their season firmly back on track. Undone on the artificial turf at Saracens seven days earlier, Baxter made six changes in personnel with recalls for Naqelevuki and Haydn Thomas in the back division, whilst up front Carl Rimmer, Hayes, Ben White and Yeandle – on his first-ever Premiership start – were included from the outset.

Like their Devon hosts, Welsh have also found wins hard to find in recent times and their loss at home to Sale Sharks last time out, extended their winless streak to ten games.

They too made changes with Seb Jewell and Tyson Keats replacing Sonny Parker and Alex Davies respectively in the back division; whilst up front Greg Bateman was given the nod at tight-head ahead of Paulica Ion.

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