Exeter beat Sale to move into Prem play-off places
Exeter move into the Prem play-off places after a 26-14 win over Sale at Sandy Park.
Stephen Varney (left) and Olly Woodburn were try scorers for Exeter against Sale [Shutterstock] The Prem Exeter (19) 26 Tries: Varney, Ridl, Woodburn, Brown-Bampoe Cons: Slade 3 Sale (7) 14 Tries: van Rhyn, D du Preez Cons: R du Preez 2 Exeter moved into the Prem play-off places after a 26-14 win over Sale at Sandy Park. Tries from Stephen Varney and Campbell Ridl saw Exeter 12-0 up after 15 minutes as the Chiefs dominated the opening exchanges. But Ernst van Rhyn's try got Sale back into it before Olly Woodburn replied for the hosts soon after as they led 19-7 at the break.
Dan du Preez's try for Sale in the opening five minutes of the second half cut the gap to five points. But Exeter secured a try-scoring bonus-point with 15 minutes left as Paul Brown-Bampoe dotted down under the posts. The victory moves Exeter into third place in the Prem, and they will stay in the top four come the end of the round as the sides they have leapfrogged - Bristol and Leicester - face one another on Sunday.
The loss means Sale remain in seventh place in the table, but their outside hopes of a play-off place seem all but over. More to follow. Exeter: Woodburn; Brown-Bampoe, Slade, Rigg, Ridl; Skinner, Varney; Sio, Yeandle, Tchumbadze, Jenkins (capt), Zambonin, Hooper, Vintcent, Fisilau.
Replacements: Heaven, Goodrick-Clarke, J Roots, Pearson, Worley Brady, Cairns, Haydon-Wood, D John. Sale: Carpenter; O'Flaherty, Louw, Ma'asi-White, Reed; R du Preez, Quirke; McIntyre, Jibulu, Harper, van Rhyn (capt), Bamber, Verrmeulen, Dugdale, D du Preez. Replacements: Caine, McEachran, W John, Gilmore, Logan, Warr, Davies, Wills.