Exeter Chiefs 26-14 Sale Sharks result – Paul Brown-Bampoe seals bonus point as hosts move back into Gallagher PREM top four

PREM / Regular

Sandy Park / 21.03.2026

Exeter Chiefs

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17:33

EXETER MOVE INTO TOP FOUR WITH BONUS POINT WIN

Exeter Chiefs returned to winning ways following last week’s PREM Cup final defeat with a 26-14 win against Sale Sharks.

The Chiefs flew out of the blocks and a set piece play resulted in Steve Varney giving them a fourth-minute lead.

'How about that?!' - Varney finishes perfect one-two try to open scoring against Sharks

Video credit: TNT Sports

Campbell Ridl then showed his footwork to give the Chiefs a 12-point lead with just 11 minutes on the clock.

Ridl scores Chiefs second try with 'lovely feet' en route to Sharks line

Video credit: TNT Sports

Stunned from the opening onslaught, Sale came back into the match and Ernst van Rhyn forced his way over the whitewash.

However, the Chiefs were basking in the sun and Olly Woodburn scored his side’s third try to take a 19-7 lead into half-time.

The Sharks showed their steel early in the second half and strength at the scrum resulted in an easy Dan du Preez try to reduce their deficit to five points.

'What a scrum!' - Sharks demolish Exeter at their own scrum and stroll in for try

Video credit: TNT Sports

However, the Chiefs had strength on their bench and the introduction of props Will Goodrick-Clarke and Jimmy Roots swung the game back in their favour.

Exeter were rewarded for turning the momentum as Paul Brown-Bampoe secured a bonus point try.

'Another brilliant set-piece try!' - Brown-Bampoe finishes excellent line for significant try

Video credit: TNT Sports

17:21

KAY: EXETER LOOKED COMFORTABLE

TNT pundit Ben Kay feels that Exeter felt comfortable seeing off the pressure of Sale.

He said: ”That felt really comfortable all the way through.

”You know whichever team you play in this league that they're going to have high points, but I just felt that Exeter, compare how they were when things were going wrong, maybe 18 months ago, and they just look so much calmer and more comfortable.

”Maybe that's just a bit more experience. Exeter had to go through that period of losing the team that developed from nothing and became champions of Europe, and they lost a lot of them.

”They've had to recreate it from scratch.”

17:17

RUGBY ON TNT SPORTS

Watch and stream Gallagher PREM, Quilter Nations Series, and Premiership Women's Rugby and more on TNT Sports and discovery+

17:16

HOOPER: WE SHOWED GRIT AT END

Exeter blind-side flanker Tom Hooper says his side showed grit to overcome a spirited Sale side.

”It was a really quality Sale side that we face today,” said Hooper.

”You saw in the second half there, they really challenged us. They probably came out firing just as much as we did in the first half.

”It's always good to get a win and to be able to fly back ugly sometimes is really good.

”We showed a bit of grit in the end there, which is nice.”

Image credit: TNT Sports

17:09

RUTHLESS EXETER

The Chiefs showed why they are play-off contenders with four tries 11 clean breaks. It was a ruthless performance from the outset.

Image credit: Getty Images

FT'

PEEP

Exeter are back into the Gallager PREM top four with an impressive 26-14 home victory against Sale.

79'

WORLEY-BRADY MAKES CHIEFS DEBUT

Vincent replaced by Worley-Brady who is the latest of today’s debutants.

77'

SKINNER HELD UP JUST SHORT

Skinner intercepts a Sale ball across the park and burst through the line. However, he runs out of legs and Du Preez is able to make a saving tackle.

75'

BIG TURNOVER FOR CHIEFS

Following the lengthy delay while John received treatment the Sharks respond. A quick scrum results in them being held up a metre short. That was before Jenkins stole the ball with an impressive hold up

74'

JOHN TAKEN OFF INJURED

A head injury to John has resulted in break in play. Jibulu comes on, but the game will now involved non contested scrums due to no tighthead prop available to come on for Sale.

74'

LOGAN ON FOR SHARKS - PREM DEBUT

Former Northampton player Logan comes on for Dugdale as Sale try and force a way back into the tie.

72'

EXETER CHANGE

Replacement Goodrick-Clarke is unable to continue and is taken off as Sio comes back into play. He will have to be alert as Sale are searching for a way back into the match in the final eight minutes.

70'

DEBUT FOR GILMORE

After impressing during the PREM Cup Gilmore is handed a league debut and replaces Bamber for Sale.

66'

CHIEFS CHANGE

Following the fourth try Yeandle is replaced by Heaven

65'

TRY! EXETER CHIEFS (BROWN-BAMPOE) 26-14 SALE SHARKS

It’s a big try for Sale. A nice piece of link-up play. From the scrum the ball is played to Skinner who plays a final pass to release Brown-Bampoe to seal the bonus point.

The conversion under the posts is also good.

64'

DEFENSIVE SALE CHANGES

Quirke and O'Flaherty make way for Warr and Wills

60'

SALE FRONT ROW CHANGE

Jibulu is taken off for Caine

59'

O’FLAHERTY SHOWS SALE FIGHT

The visitors have been under pressure in the last 10 minutes. However, they respond triumphantly as Quirke plays a box kick and then releases O'Flaherty.

The Sale man rides several tackles before his kick forward for Quirke is just collected by a covering defender.

56'

EXETER CHANGES MAKE IMPACT

Props Goodrick-Clarke and Roots have made a big impact in this second half. They manage to turn the scrum, but the ball out wide is kicked too far and Sale recover the situation.

54'

DOUBLE SALE CHANGE

McIntyre and Louw are replaced by McEachran and Davies

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