Chiefs outplay Exiles to stay top
PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Sam Hill scored two tries as Exeter Chiefs maintained their hot form with a six-try 45-28 victory away at London Irish.
The Chiefs stay top of the Premiership table following the performance, which saw them wrap up a bonus point before half-time.
Hill (2), Dave Dennis, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ollie Devoto and Stuart Townsend all scored tries, although they did go down to 13 men in the second half.
Devoto and Olly Woodburn were sin-binned within two minutes of each other and that allowed Irish to gain some momentum, which they used to secure a losing bonus point.
Belgium Tuatagaloa touched down in the first half, while scores from Albert Tuisue, Oliver Hassell-Collins and Steve Mafi ensured they did not leave empty-handed.
The scorers:
For London Irish:
Tries: Tuatagaloa, Tuisue, Hassell-Collins, Mafi
Cons: Myler 4
For Exeter Chiefs:
Tries: Hill 2, Dennis, Cowan-Dickie, Devoto, Townsend
Cons: Steenson 6
Pen: Steenson
Yellow cards: Ollie Devoto (Exeter Chiefs, 60); Olly Woodburn (Exeter Chiefs, 62)
Teams:
London Irish: 15 Alivereti Veitokani, 14 Belgium Tuatagaloa, 13 Curtis Rona, 12 Tom Stephenson, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Ben Meehan, 8 Albert Tuisue, 7 Blair Cowan, 6 Steve Mafi, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Franco van der Merwe (captain), 3 Ollie Hoskins, 2 Saia Fainga’a, 1 Allan Dell.
Replacements: 16 Dave Porecki, 17 Harry Elrington, 18 Lovejoy Chawatama, 19 Barney Maddison, 20 Matt Rogerson, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Jacob Atkins, 23 Bryce Campbell.
Exeter: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Ollie Devoto, 12 Sam Hill, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Gareth Steenson, 9 Nic White, 8 Sam Simmonds, 7 Don Armand, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Dave Dennis (captain), 4 Jannes Kirsten, 3 Enrique Pieretto, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Alec Hepburn.
Replacements: 16 Elvis Taione, 17 Ben Moon, 18 Marcus Street, 19 Sean Lonsdale, 20 Matt Kvesic, 21 Stuart Townsend, 22 Joe Simmonds, 23 Phil Dollman.
Referee: Christophe Ridley
Assistant referees: Greg Macdonald & Tim Wigglesworth.
TMO: Geoff Warren.
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