Chiefs on top of the Premiership

Match report: Exeter Chiefs 31 Wasps 15

Whilst sporting headline makers will no doubt be keeping close tabs on this year’s Formula One finale this weekend – here in Devon it was Exeter Chiefs who moved into pole position of the Aviva Premiership with a fine victory over visiting Wasps.

Rob Baxter’s clocked up their sixth league win of the season to leapfrog defending champions Northampton Saints – who play Saracens tomorrow – at the top of the table.

A first half try double from Cornishman Jack Nowell, plus another touchdown for the free-scoring Thomas Waldrom, proved the highlights for the home side, whose remainder of the points came courtesy of the boot of Irishman Gareth Steenson.

Wasps countered with tries of their own from Rob Miller and Tom Lindsay, as well as kicks from Andy Goode and Alex Lozowoski, but it was never enough to thwart the on-song Chiefs.

After downing reigning champions Northampton Saints on their own turf the week previous, it was no real surprise that Baxter opted to make little to change his winning formula. Up front Dave Ewers was the sole change as he came in for Ben White – and prior to kick-off centre Sam Hill was forced to pull out of the action after tweaking a groin.

Irishman Ian Whitten was promoted from the bench with Adam Hughes filling the vacant spot. Wasps, meanwhile, arrived in Devon on the back of a thumping 71-7 victory against lowly London Welsh.

However, they too were forced to make changes – all of them coming in the pack – where Lorenzo Cittadini, Bradley Davies and Sam Jones were handed starts. It was, however, the Chiefs who wasted little time in setting the tone, taking just three minutes to claim the first of their tries.

Strong build-up play from the Exeter pack saw them punch their way deep into the Wasps half from where the electric Will Chudley was able to snipe off a ruck before releasing Nowell for his opening try, which Steenson duly converted from wide on the right touchline.

The visitors countered within minutes thanks to a penalty from Goode, but no sooner had they cut the deficit the Chiefs responded in kind with a kick of their own as Steenson punished Dai Young’s men for not releasing at the tackle following decent attacking raids from Luke Cowan-Dickie and Waldrom.

Again, though, there was a response from Wasps as quick-thinking from No.8 Nathan Hughes saw him link with Joe Simpson and when he was felled; the visitors cleverly worked the ball to the right at pace where full-back Miller was able to cross with ease for the score that went unconverted.

It was end-to-end stuff from both sides in the opening quarter, but it was the Chiefs who were proving more clinical in attack as Steenson extended their lead with a second penalty to make it 13-8.

At the other end, Wasps looked to hit back as a clever break through the middle from skipper Chris Bell almost released Sailosi Tagicakibau, but the Chiefs scrambled well in defence and they were able to withhold the threat without too many issues.

The remainder of the half, however, belonged to the Chiefs as they eased into a 17-point lead by the turn with two more converted tries.

Cornishman Nowell was again the beneficiary on the half-hour mark as his dazzling footwork wide on the right saw him pick his way through the Wasps defence for his second of the afternoon. Having not scored a Premiership try since April 2013 – ironically in the away game at Wasps – it was proving quite an afternoon for the England international.

The Chiefs were far from finished and having made a hash of one close-range line-out, they made no mistake with their second opportunity as Cowan-Dickie’s throw found Damian Welch, his fellow forwards applied the shove towards the line and at the bottom of the pile was, just guessed it, that man Waldrom.

It was try No.7 for the summer signing who, it has to be said, continues to prove his worth to the Chiefs cause.

Steenson slotted the extras to put his side firmly in control at the turn.

Half time: Exeter Chiefs 25 Wasps 8.

Read the rest of the match report here.