Exeter: (22) 25 |
Tries: Fisilau, Wimbush, Sio, Tuima; Pen: Hodge; Con: Hodge |
Newcastle: (13) 16 |
Tries: Stevenson; Pens: Connon 3; Con: Connon |
Exeter Chiefs climbed as much as third within the Premiership with a 25-16 win over backside aspect Newcastle Falcons.
Newcastle, and not using a league win since 24 March final yr, took a shock early lead via Ben Stevenson’s strive.
However Chiefs hit again to safe a bonus level by half-time via tries from Greg Fisilau, Zack Wimbush, Scott Sio and Rusi Tuima.
Brett Connon’s boot saved Falcons within the sport however Josh Hodge’s late penalty eased any Exeter nerves.
Exeter’s victory lifts them above each Harlequins, who had been nicely crushed by Saracens, and Tub, who host Sale on Sunday, within the race for the play-off locations.
In the meantime, Newcastle have now misplaced 16 successive league video games since beating Gloucester 17-12 at Kingston Park final season.
Exeter had been compelled right into a late change to their line-up, with England worldwide flanker Ethan Roots changed by Jacques Vermeulen after choosing up an damage within the warm-up.
And Chiefs had barely had their fingers on the ball earlier than Falcons took the lead after just one minute once they unfold it left to Stevenson, who collected possession 40 metres out and broke via the tried sort out of Hodge to attain within the nook.
Chiefs responded with quantity eight Fisilau going over from shut vary, just for Connon to present Newcastle a 10-5 lead when he added a penalty to his earlier conversion.
The guests had been lowered to 14 males when Man Pepper was despatched to the sin-bin and Exeter made probably the most of their numerical benefit to stage with a weird strive.
Falcons full-back Elliott Obatoyinbo patted the ball again in-field in attempting to stop Joe Hawkins’ cross-field kick going into contact close to his personal line, leaving Wimbush with the only of duties to select up the free ball close to the touchline and dot down.
Exeter took the lead for the primary time when prop Sio scored from a decide and go within the left nook and secured their bonus level simply earlier than the break with one other close-range rating from lock Tuima, to enter half-time with a 22-13 lead.
Chiefs’ lead would have been larger if that they had been capable of kick greater than Hodge’s sole first-half conversion and it made for a nervy begin to the second half when Connon slotted his third penalty, earlier than Hodge then hit the submit with an effort of his personal.
And any anxiousness among the many house supporters was solely eased when Newcastle alternative Bryan Byrne was despatched to the sin-bin with seven minutes left and Hodge’s penalty gave Exeter a two-score lead.
Exeter: Hodge; John, Wimbush, Hawkins, Woodburn; Skinner, Becconsall; Sio, Yeandle, Iosefa-Scott, Tuima, Pearson, Vermeulen, Capstick, Fisilau.
Replacements: Frost, Southworth, Road, Dunne, Vintcent, Townsend, Haydon-Wooden, Rigg
Newcastle: Obatoyinbo; Radwan, Penny, Jennings, Stevenson; Connon, Stuart; Brocklebank, Blamire, Bello, Van der Walt, De Chaves, Lockwood, Pepper, Chick.
Replacements: Byrne, Brantingham, Palframan, Kelly, Cross, Douglas, Hutchinson, Moroni
Sin-bin: Pepper (18), Byrne (71)
Referee: Jack Makepeace