Exeter beat Wasps by 34-23 to reach Premiership final

Exeter Chiefs 34-23 Wasps, Sandy Park
Scorecard 

Exeter Chiefs reached their maiden Premiership final after beating Wasps 34-23 in a close encounter at Sandy Park on Saturday.

Exeter scored four tries in the game which included two penalty tries with the other two being scored by centre Ian Whitten (22') and flanker Dave Ewers(47').

Fly-half Gareth Steenson scored 14 points with the boot which included four conversions and a couple of penalties.
The game witnessed a fluctuating first half with the lead changing hands four times before the half time whistle.

Steenson got the ball rolling for Exeter by scoring a couple of penalties on the 3rd and 11th minute of the game.
However, Wasps responded well on the 16th minute as hooker Carlo Festuccia crossed over to score the first try of the game. Fly-half Jimmy Gopperth added the extras as the visitors took a single point lead.

Whitten registered Chiefs' first try on the 21st minute as Steenson successfully made the conversion.

Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson scored the second try for the visitors on the 31st minute as Gopperth's conversion once again swayed the one point lead in his side's favor.

With a couple of minutes remaining in the first-half, referee Greg Garner awarded the home side a penalty try as Wasps' Festuccia was sent to the sin-bin.

With a manageable deficit of six points and a man down, Dai Young's men came out determined to get back into the game. Gopperth's penalty on the 45th minute reduced the trail by half.

However, Ewers crossed over for a try on the very next minute with Steenson making the conversion.

Wasps failed to score a try in the second-half as Gopperth's (52', 67') two penalties were the only two scoring sources for the Coventry side.

With only a four points lead in their pocket and 13 minutes left in the game, Exeter's defence held firm and safely negotiated Wasps attack.

Garner awarded the home side their second penalty try in the final minute followed by Steenson's conversion as Rob Baxter's men sealed the win with a nine-point margin.

Only six years after making their entry into the Premiership, Exeter have an opportunity a week later to win it.

Chiefs will meet Saracens at Twickenham Stadium on 28th of May for the final showdown.