Bath beat Exeter Chiefs 40-34 in a pulsating West Country derby at the Rec to move top of the Gallagher Prem table, but they were made to fight all the way in an 11-try thriller. Exeter trailed 26-10 at the interval but rallied to lead 33-31 midway through the second half before a yellow card for scrum-half Stephen Varney proved decisive.
Cam Redpath, Dan du Preez, Bernard van der Linde, Ted Hill and Finn Russell scored Bath's tries, with Russell converting four. The hugely impressive Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored two tries for Exeter, with Jack Yeandle, Josh Iosefa-Scott and Varney also going over. Henry Slade converted three and Harvey Skinner added a late penalty.
Bath took control early as Redpath intercepted a Skinner pass to run 50 metres and score, before Van der Linde slipped through a gap for an individual try. Exeter responded through Feyi-Waboso's strong running, setting up Varney's try. Bath extended their lead before half-time when Russell dummyed his way over for a bonus-point try.
Exeter began the second half strongly with two quick tries, then took the lead for the first time when Will Butt carved the hosts apart to set up Feyi-Waboso's second try. Bath were awarded a penalty try with Varney yellow-carded, and Hill battered over in the scrum-half's absence. Skinner's late penalty gave Chiefs two bonus points.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing