Bachuki Tchumbadze scored two early tries as Exeter Chiefs dismantled a reshuffled Cardiff side 31-0 at Sandy Park. The tighthead prop's double, plus scores from Joseph Dweba, Julian Heaven, and Paul Brown-Bampoe, secured a dominant European Challenge Cup victory and a home tie in the last 16.

Cardiff made ten changes, but their makeshift lineup crumbled under early pressure. A high tackle went unpunished, yet Exeter capitalized immediately. Rory Thornton's sin-bin compounded their woes, leaving them 19 points down by halftime. Despite a spirited second-half rally, a disallowed try for a knock-on was as close as they came to scoring.

The Chiefs' forward line, revamped after a sluggish start, proved decisive. Ethan Roots won a key lineout, setting up Heaven's try. Henry Slade landed three conversions, while Harvey Skinner's clever pass sealed the late score. Exeter now awaits their knockout opponent, having delivered a statement performance to advance.