Clinical first-half performance secures 21-3 victory for Exeter Chiefs over Sale Sharks
James Short went in for one of Exeter's tries
©PA
Sale Sharks 3 - 21 Exeter Chiefs, AJ Bell Stadium
Scorecard
Sale Sharks scored three tries in the first half as they went on to defeat Exeter Chiefs by 3-21 in their Aviva Premiership encounter at AJ Bell Stadium on Friday.
The win has taken Exeter Chiefs to fourth position in the table displacing Leicester Tigers while Sale Sharks are placed at ninth position.
Things did not go as per the plan for the home side as Exeter Chiefs were awarded a penalty try in the seventh minute following a driving maul which led to a sin-bin for Sale Sharks skipper Josh Beaumont. Fly-half Gareth Steenson added the extras to take a 0-7 lead for the visitors.
Sale Sharks fly-half AJ MacGinty kicked a 11th minute penalty to bring down the gap to four points but that remained the only points for his team in the game much to the disappointment of Steve Diamond.
Wing James Short and scrum-half Will Chudley crossed over in the 19th and 34th minute respectively and Steenson added the conversion on both the occasions to take the total to 21 points.
The second half saw both teams not scoring any point resulting in third consecutive victory for Exeter Chiefs over Sale Sharks in the Aviva Premiership.
Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter was pleased with his team's performance on Friday.
"I'm hugely satisfied - we've had some tough results based on some decent performances, but tonight it feels that a good performance gave us the rewards.
"It was a very good performance based around the players working extremely hard to do some key things we identified during the week.
"I don't think people appreciate enough how hard we worked tonight - I thought the boys were exceptional in their work rate, and that underpins everything."
Meanwhile Sale Sharks rugby director Diamonds urged the team to turn things around quickly.
"We're disappointed; the team's not playing well and there's not much confidence in them - we'll have a chance in mindset over the weekend.
"Maybe I've got it wrong, being a bit naïve picking too many youngsters in the team, but we need to wizen up.
"From going from a team that's finished fifth and sixth over the last five years, to looking like we could be in a relegation battle - we need to pull our finger out."
