Gloucester Rugby 17-38 Exeter Chiefs - Jacques Vermeulen double helps Chiefs keep slim play-off hopes alive

Exeter Chiefs kept their faint Gallagher Premiership play-off hopes alive with a 38-17 bonus-point victory away against Gloucester at Kingsholm Stadium.

A blistering start from the visitors saw Henry Slade's early penalty followed by two quickfire converted tries as Jacques Vermeulen plundered over from close range before Dan John made the most of Slade's bursting run through the midfield to touch down after from an offload.

Jonny May's simple finish for Gloucester was cancelled out shortly after by Olly Woodburn but the Chiefs once again gifted their opposition a way back into the game when Jack Clement was allowed to stride over the line on the brink of half-time.

Needing a big win to maintain their play-off push, though, Exeter regained momentum after the break when Harvey Skinner's looping miss pass allowed Immanuel Feyi-Waboso to saunter over for the bonus-point score.

A mistake moments later from Tom Cairns allowed Arthur Clark to gather a charged-down kick and score Gloucester's third try, but Rob Baxter's side but the result beyond doubt when Vermeulen powered over for his second score of the game late on.

The Chiefs now face a must-win home fixture against Harlequins next weekend, while Gloucester turn their attention to their Challenge Cup semi-final against Benetton.

It's a transitional period for Rob Baxter's side but performances like today's show the potential present within this raw Chief's squad. While there is experience in the form of Slade, Woodburn and Vermeulen, the performances of Fisilau, Roots and Feyi-Waboso provide a window into the exciting future ahead.

Mistakes still need to be ironed out going forward but if they can roll this momentum into next week's crunch game against Harlequins, there may yet be potential for a late play-off push.

The flanker has been a constant presence with ball in hand this season and continued that today with two crucial scores. Gloucester struggled to live with his power at the breakdown and in the carry and Baxter will be after more of the same from the 29-year-old in the final two games of the regular season.

Gloucester: Morris 6, May 7, Harris 6, Llewellyn 6, Thorley 6, Atkinson 5, Varney 7, Ford-Robinson 6, Blake 6, Gotovtsev 5, Clarke 7, Clark 6, Ackermann 7, Clement 7, Mercer 6.

Replacements: Socino 6, Vivas 6, Knight 5, Thomas 6, Ludlow 7, Chapman 6, Englefield 5, Hillman-Cooper 6.

Exeter Chiefs: John 7, Feyi-Waboso 8, Slade 9, Hawkins 7, Woodburn 8, Skinner 7, Cairns 6, Sio 6, Yeandle 7, Street 7, Dunne 7, Jenkins 6, Roots 8, Vermeulen 9, Fisilau 8.

Replacements: Norey 7, Southworth 6, Painter 6, Tshiunza 5, Vintcent 6, Armstrong 6, Haydon-Wood 6, Wimbush n/a.

6' PENALTY! GLOUCESTER 0-3 EXETER CHIEFS (SLADE) - Slade makes no mistake, slotting over the penalty to get the Chiefs up and running.

15' TRY! GLOUCESTER 0-8 EXETER CHIEFS (VERMEULEN) - The visitors opt for the lineout from the penalty and a great maul is brought down on the five-yard line again. This time the Chiefs tap and go and, in the end, it's Vermeulen who buries his way over the line from short range. Slade converts the kick and it's a great start for the Chiefs.

18' TRY! GLOUCESTER 0-17 EXETER CHIEFS (JOHN) - Out of nowhere, the Chiefs have another! Slade makes the bursting run through the midfield, drawing two men before offloading to Skinner. The fly-half is tackled before the line but he has the presence of mind to offload the ball to John who storms over the line for his side's second try in three minutes. Slade curls in the conversion and Exeter are in total control now.

29' TRY! GLOUCESTER 5-17 EXETER CHIEFS (MAY) - May won't score many easier tries than that. The visitors do superbly to stop the lineout drive but then it all opens up for the Gloucester winger on the right side as Woodburn's attempt to intercept the ball fails, allowing May to canter in for the home side's first try. The conversion misses.

36' TRY! GLOUCESTER 5-24 EXETER CHIEFS (WOODBURN) - Slade the playmaker again and Exeter have another try just moments after Feyi-Waboso was denied. This time it's Woodburn who collects the ball and touches down in the corner after a superb burst from Slade through the middle. Another great conversion, too, from Slade and the visitors are in cruise control.

40' TRY! GLOUCESTER 10-24 EXETER CHIEFS (CLEMENT) - Gloucester do now have their vital score before the break. Exeter lose the ball at their own lineout before Clement finds a pocket of space and surges over the line to give his side a much-needed score on the brink of half-time. A poor conversion attempt follows from Atkinson, though, so it will just be the five points.

48' TRY! GLOUCESTER 10-31 EXETER CHIEFS (FEYI-WABOSO) - Clinical from Exeter. Cairns gets the ball out of the scrum to Skinner who loops a superb pass out wide to Feyi-Waboso and he makes no mistake, touching over in the corner to give the Chiefs their bonus-point try. Slade bends the conversion in and the visitors have some much-needed breathing space.

52' TRY! GLOUCESTER 17-31 EXETER CHIEFS (CLARK) - Another gift from Exeter and Gloucester hit back immediately. Cairns' kick is charged down - not for the first time this game - and this time the hosts take full advantage as Clark gathers the ball and touches down. Atkinson adds the extra two points.

60' TRY! GLOUCESTER 17-38 EXETER CHIEFS (VERMEULEN) - There's no stopping the Exeter flanker from their as Vermeulen powers over short range for his second try of Exeter's fifth. Slade slots over the conversion and the visitors re-establish their 21-point lead.

Despite winning the Premiership Rugby Cup and reaching the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup, today's defeat means it is just seven wins in their last 31 league games for George Skivington's side.

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