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England trio sin-binned as Bath extend Exeter's winless Prem start
By PA
Exeter suffered a seventh successive Gallagher Premiership defeat of the season as Bath regained top spot with a 19-15 victory at the Recreation Ground.
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It was not a game that will live long in the memory, but Bath had enough to thwart Exeter and leave them stuck at the Premiership basement.
Flanker Guy Pepper, number eight Miles Reid and replacement hooker Niall Annett scored tries for Bath, with fly-half Finn Russell adding two conversions, although a vastly improved performance will be required in their next game against Investec Champions Cup opponents La Rochelle.
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Exeter often belied their league position as Jacques Vermuelen crossed for a try and Henry Slade kicked a penalty, remaining in the contest until Annett’s score 13 minutes from time finished them off, although number eight Greg Fisilau’s 80th-minute effort that Slade converted secured a losing bonus.
Chiefs remain the only side in this season’s Premiership without a league win, and they are already a distant 18 points adrift of the play-off places.
Bath, though, have no such worries, nudging west country rivals Bristol into second place without remotely hitting top gear.
England wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, making his first appearance since suffering concussion during the autumn Test defeat against Australia, conceded a third-minute penalty following a late tackle on international colleague and Bath scrum-half Ben Spencer.
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It allowed Bath to establish a territorial foothold, and they went ahead four minutes later when Pepper powered over on the back of slick lineout possession, with Russell converting.
Exeter weathered the early storm, though, and a lengthy Slade kick to touch gave them a platform to attack through their forwards before Vermeuelen crossed from close range.
Bath then saw flanker Ted Hill yellow-carded by referee Sara Cox following a head-on-head collision with Exeter scrum-half Stu Townsend, and the home side were forced to absorb considerable pressure, although Chiefs could not make it count.
Bath also struggled in the aerial contest, where Exeter prospered, and skipper Vermeulen led a strong effort at the breakdown.
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Exeter’s greater cohesion was rewarded just before half-time when Slade kicked a penalty, giving his team an 8-7 interval advantage.
Bath needed just four minutes of the second period to go back in front, and it was Reid who went over after a sweeping attack that involved Spencer and wing Will Muir put Chiefs on the back foot.
But back came Exeter, setting up camp inside Bath’s 22 after Spencer was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on that interrupted a floated pass to Feyi-Waboso.
However, Chiefs over-threw the resulting lineout and Bath escaped as Exeter only had themselves to blame for blowing a gilt-edged scoring chance.
Bath rediscovered some of their early purpose and vigour during the final quarter, and they wrapped up the points when Annett touched down after a dynamic lineout drive.
Russell kicked the conversion, and there was no way back for Exeter despite Fisilau’s consolation as they must now pick themselves up for a testing Champions Cup opener against the Sharks in South Africa.
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