Exeter Chiefs 14-26 Bath Rugby: Visitors continue play-off bid with important victory at Sandy Park

Bath and their supporters could leave Sandy Park with smiles beaming under the Exeter sunshine on Saturday evening after a 26-14 bonus point win over the Chiefs taking them a step further to securing a place in the Gallagher Premiership play-offs.

Chiefs, perhaps fatigued after a heavy drubbing by Toulouse last weekend, lacked the clinical edge and fire that they’ve trademarked this season.

Bath meanwhile, even without Finn Russell, controlled the game superbly and picked up a well-deserved five points.

They edge even closer to a first playoff appearance in four years.

Bath propelled themselves past Saracens into second place, putting eight points between them and fifth-placed Bristol Bears. Bath kept Exeter entirety scoreless for the first 40 minutes, heading into half time with a 14-0 lead.

Toulouse got the better of Exeter because they're a vastly better side. But today, Exeter were their own worst enemies, handing the game and momentum over to Bath multiple times today and the visitors took advantage of that.

They were the dominant side for much for the first half an hour, with Alfie Barbeary, who had a storming game, crashing over in the corner off a lineout to open the scoring. Ben Spencer added his side’s second right before half time.

A lax Chiefs defence allowed Charlie Ewels to skip through the lineout and his offload to Ben Spencer saw the nine go straight for the corner. Spencer was rightly the game's man of the match, picking up some of the playmaking duties left behind by Finn Russell's injury. He also kicked from the tee well.

Predictably, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Josh Hodge were the standout players for the hosts, particularly in the first half. The pair combined numerously down the wing, but a mix of inaccuracy and Bath's stellar defence muted their efforts.

Exeter got one back finally through Olly Woodburn after their heavy carries made space for the winger out wide.

But it was almost instantly cancelled out by Max Ojomoh, leaping on a Tom Cairns mistake just short of his own line to nab the ball and score. Minutes later, Miles Reid added to the lead after being on for all of about 20 seconds, dotting down under the posts off the back of a big push from the lineout.

The hosts threatened to make the last 10 minutes a feisty one as replacement nine Stuart Townsend darted over in the 71st minute. Exeter carried hard through the likes Dafydd Jenkins and Zach Wimbush, and tried to run and beat Bath on the edges.

But Bath’s defence stood imperiously and shut the Chiefs out from getting near a bonus point as the final moments wore on. After losing here two weeks ago in the Investec Champions Cup, Bath got their ultimate revenge as the Chiefs now need to win all their remaining matches to have a real chance of making the playoffs.

Bath, meanwhile, move into second, and may just be this year's dark horses to go all the way.

Orlando Bailey played a good game today and Ben Spencer picked up the playmaking duties superbly. But will it be enough if Finn Russell doesn’t make it back from injury?

Exeter are a formidable side but it’s easy to forget they weren’t realistically meant to be in playoff contention this year given their inexperience and the players they lost.

With Spencer as the lead, Bath resorted to a more Saracens-esque style, with the scrum-half seeking to control the game through the boot and win the game from there.

It worked today, but it will it be enough to beat the dazzle of Northampton, or even Saracens themselves?

Fine, fine performance from the man who took Bath's reigns in the absence of Russell. The scrum-half was outstanding in attack, defence, and from the boot. He'll be crucial to Bath securing a playoff spot and their playoff ties.

There were a number of fine performers on show. Julian Montaya and Jasper Wiese were fine performers for the Tigers, but Mitchell took control after the break when Northampton forced themselves in front. Then, when the stars outside him came onto the field, he put his foot on the accelerator so his side could attack at full speed and kill the contest.

Exeter Chiefs: Sio 6, Yeandle 6, Painter 5, Pearson 5, Jenkins 6, Roots 6, Vermeulen 6, Fisilau 6, Cairns 4, Skinner 6, Woodburn 7, Devoto 6, Slade 6, Feyi-Waboso 7, Hodge 6,

Replacements: Norey 6, Southworth 6, Street 6, Dunne 6, Tshuinza 6

Bath: Obano 7, Dunn 8, Stuart 7, Roux 7, Ewels 8, Hill , Underhill 7, Barbeary 8, Spencer 9. Bailey 7, Muir 7, Ojomoh 7, Lawrence 7, Cokanasiga 6, Gallagher 6.

Replacements: Faiva 6, Du Plessis 6, Schreuder 6, Reid 7.

Match Highlights

28’ TRY! BARBEARY | EXETER 0-7 BATH - Bath get another lineout in Chiefs' 22 and a big shove leads to Barbeary crashing over in the corner.

40’ TRY! SPENCER | EXETER 0-14 BATH -Perfect end to the first half! Charlie Ewels breaks away through the lineout, Chiefs' defence completely switch off, and Ewels offloads to Spencer who scores in the corner!

47’ TRY! WOODBURN | EXETER 7-14 BATH - Exeter get one back shortly into the first half. The Chiefs hit Bath hard and engineer space out wide for the winger to stroll.

49’ TRY! OJOMOH | EXETER 7-19 BATH - Max Ojomoh attacks down the right wing and then grubbers a kick in behind. Cairns misses the bounce and Ojomoh is on hand to gather one metre out and touch the ball down.

53’ TRY! REID | EXETER 7-26 BATH - After being on the pitch for all of about 20 seconds, Miles Reid dots down under the posts from a big push off a lineout and nabs the important bonus point try.

71' TRY! TOWNSEND | EXETER 14-26 BATH - Exeter finally turn the pressure into points and replacement nine Stuart Townsend darts over from close range. Big finish incoming?

- - -

TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.