Wasps too strong for Chiefs
Tries from Ben Broster and David Lemi helped Wasps to a 24-12 victory over Exeter in freezing fog at Adams Park.
Last Updated: 05/12/10 5:44pm
Tries from Ben Broster and David Lemi helped Wasps record a 24-12 victory over Exeter in freezing fog at Adams Park.
The hosts had been forced to rely on the boot of Dave Walder, who kicked four penalties and a conversion to finish with a personal haul of 14 points, before finally touching down a minute before the break.
Lemi then gave Wasps the perfect start to the second half with an early score that put some daylight between the two Aviva Premiership teams.
Exeter had plenty of possession during the contest but were forced to rely on Ryan Davis' boot for points, the fly-half slotting over four penalties.
Higgins blow
Despite losing wing Andrew Higgins in the warm, the Chiefs began brightly and took a third-minute lead when Ryan Davis kicked his first penalty.
However, within minutes Wasps were level when Walder responded to his opposite number's effort with a 30-metre penalty.
Wasps then produced a sustained spell of pressure with both centres Ben Jacobs and Steve Kefu producing threatening runs.
Their efforts eventually saw Exeter concede a penalty, allowing Walder to knock over three points to put the home team ahead for the first time.
Although Davis responded with another penalty to level it at 6-6 after 22 minutes, Walder's third effort of the afternoon gave Wasps the lead again.
They went further clear right before the interval when a succession of five-metre scrums led to Broster being awarded the try when his colleagues in the pack forced him over the line. Walder converted to make it 16-6 at the interval.
As if conceding such a late try at the end of the half wasn't bad enough for Exeter, they left themselves a mountain to climb when their defensive line was breached for a second time soon after the resumption.
A clever pass from Walder at a ruck near halfway set up an attacking move for Wasps that finished with winger Lemi diving over.
The game seemed up at that stage for Exeter, as they trailed 21-6.
Davis kicked another penalty to close the gap by three going into the final quarter and the Chiefs pushed hard for more points, dominating both territory and possession.
However all they could muster was a fourth penalty with seven minutes to go. Wasps finally killed them off when a rare foray into Exeter territory allowed Walder to kick a simple goal to seal victory.
