Rob Baxter 'massively pleased' despite Exeter's winless start to season

Bath director of rugby Johann van Graan was delighted with another five points as he saw his side win an 11-try thriller in a pulsating West Country derby to go top of the Gallagher Prem table with a 40-34 win over Exeter at the Rec.

Bath looked in control when they led 26-10 at the interval but the resurgent Chiefs, inspired by England wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso rallied to lead 33-31 midway through the second half.

However a deliberate knock-on from Exeter’s scrum half Stephen Varney proved crucial as Bath were awarded a penalty try and Varney yellow carded.

Cam Redpath, Dan du Preez, Bernard van der Linde, Ted Hill and Finn Russell scored Bath’s tries. There was also a penalty try award with Russell converting four.

Feyi-Waboso scored two tries for Exeter, Jack Yeandle, Josh Iosefa-Scott and Varney were also on the try-scoring sheet with Henry Slade converting three. Harvey Skinner added a late penalty.

Van Graan said: “We wanted to start well and achieved this to build up a healthy first-half lead but they went on to dominate the third quarter.

“We then brought on our bench and obviously they made a big impact so we finished strongly to get a valuable five points in a game involving two very good sides.

“It was particularly pleasing to see Jacob Coetzee back in action. He’s been out for nearly two years and he and Will Stuart, who also returned, made a big impact.

“One scrum in the first half was huge as we shunted them backwards. It was a big momentum shift as we went to the corner and scored from there.”

At one stage, Exeter looked set to record a third successive victory over their West Country rivals but it was not to be but their director of rugby Rob Baxter was delighted with a much improved performance after last week 45-24 home defeat at the hands of Gloucester.

He said: “I’m massively pleased with our intent and physicality as we turned up for the fight from the start.

“Even though we were 16 points down at the interval, I thought we were unlucky to be in that position as it was for most of the time an even half.

“It wasn’t against the run of play, but two of their tries came from when we were attacking with favourable bounces going their way.

“The yellow card obviously had a massive effect on the game but even allowing for that, there were a few things we could have done better in the second half and it may have resulted in a victory for us.

“Still it was a massive step forward from last week’s disappointing effort and gives us a foundation to move on.”