Exeter Chiefs secure home semi-final after 7-35 win over Bristol

Bristol 7 - 35 Exeter Chiefs, Ashton Gate

A five-try performance from Exeter Chiefs saw them seal a 7-35 victory over Bristol at Ashton Gate on Sunday to secure a home semi-final in the Anglo-Welsh cup.

Hooker Shaun Malton got Exeter Chiefs going with a try inside five minutes with fly-half Joe Simmonds adding the conversion. Even though, Bristol fly-half Callum Sheedy managed to breach Exeter's defence on two occasions, they failed to make it count.

Bristol suffered a major setback as they lost Luke Arscott and Joe Joyce to injuries in the 18th and 19th minute respectively.

The problems compounded for Bristol as hooker and Marc Jones and then flanker James Phillips were sin-binned in the 32nd and 33rd minute respectively for repeated offending and from the next scrum, referee Ian Davies awarded a penalty try which Simmonds converted to give Exeter a 14-0 interval lead

Exeter looked in no mood to relent their attack as England international Henry Slade crossed over in the 54th minute with Simmonds following with the extras and the lead was stretched to 21 points after the completion of the third quarter.

They soon secured the bonus point when fullback Max Bodilly went past the line in the 64th minute but they lost wing Olly Woodburn in the final 10 minutes when he was yellow-carded.

Bristol finally opened their account in the 71st minute through a try from Jamal Ford Robinson and Sheedy scored his first successful kick but another penalty try awarded in the 78th minute ensured Exeter Chiefs a 28-point victory.