Exeter remarkably secure quarter-final place with bonus point win

Exeter remarkably clinched a place in the European Champions Cup quarter-finals after beating the Ospreys in bonus point fashion at Sandy Park.

Two tries apiece from wing James Short and number eight Thomas Waldrom, plus a Don Armand touchdown saw Exeter win 33-17 as Gareth Steenson added three conversions and Will Hooley, one.

And with Bordeaux surprisingly beating Clermont Auvergne, it meant Exeter defied the odds to become the fifth English team in this year's quarter-finals alongside Saracens, Leicester, Northampton and Wasps.

The Ospreys, though, crashed out despite Hanno Dirksen's early try and a late penalty try, alongside seven points from the boot of Dan Biggar.

Wales' wait for a top-flight European quarter-finalist - last achieved in 2012 - continues.

But Exeter deserved all the plaudits after a stunning display that saw them finish top of the group against all odds.

The game began at a lightning pace in glorious conditions with three converted tries inside the opening 10 minutes.

Exeter made their ambitious intentions clear when Steenson opted for a kick to the corner instead of attempting a long-range penalty following an Ospreys' infringement, and after Waldrom made an initial charge, Armand pounced from close range.

Steenson's conversion made it 7-0, but the Ospreys quickly drew level following scrum-half Brendan Leonard's break, and before the Exeter defence could realign themselves, Dirksen gathered the ball and crashed through a pile of bodies.

Biggar tied things up with a sharply-angled conversion, yet Exeter were immediately back into their stride, sparked by an arcing run from Italy international centre Michele Campagnaro, before Waldrom finished things off and another Steenson conversion put the Chiefs 14-7 ahead.

The game inevitably settled down and there was then a double injury concern for Ospreys as their skipper Alun-Wyn Jones left for a head injury assessment before try-scorer Dirksen was forced off to be replaced by Sam Davies.

Jones quickly rejoined the action, but his second-row partner Lloyd Ashley limped off after 29 minutes, and was replaced in turn by Rory Thornton.

Exeter saw forwards Jack Yeandle and Geoff Parling go off for assessment after a 32nd-minute clash of heads, and Ospreys were content to soak up Exeter pressure as half-time approached.

Yeandle came back on just before the break, just in time to help his team close out the half and secure a seven-point lead at the interval.

With the wind at their backs, Ospreys began the second half in confident fashion, and a Biggar penalty from in front of Exeter's posts narrowed the deficit to 14-10.

The Ospreys however were to prove to be their own worst enemies just three minutes later, when Wales international hooker Scott Baldwin's reckless late challenge on Waldrom left referee Jerome Garces with little option other than to sin-bin him.

And Ospreys were soon punished when Short ran straight through a weak challenge from replacement Davies, before outpacing Justin Tipuric for a try in the corner that put Exeter nine points clear and within touching distance of a bonus point.

Short's second touchdown, which was sealed with another fine finish, looked to have sealed the deal, only for Ospreys to respond nine minutes from time when Garces awarded them a penalty try that Biggar converted after Exeter illegally halted a driving lineout.

But Waldrom had the final say, and when news of Bordeaux's victory filtered through to Sandy Park, the Chiefs' faithful embarked on wild celebrations at an ulikely progression to the next round of the Champions Cup.