Aviva Premiership: Exeter Chiefs 26-17 Bath Rugby

Ian Whitten crossed for the first try of the game after a 60 metre burst from his team-mate James Short

Exeter Chiefs compound Bath woes with a 26-17 victory at Sandy Park in the Aviva Premiership.

The win keeps the Chiefs in the hunt for the Aviva Premiership top spot, cutting reigning champions Saracens' lead to just three points.

Exeter took a hold of the game early on through the boot of Gareth Steenson and a long-range try from Ian Whitton.

Amanaki Mafi scored either side of the break to keep Bath in the hunt but a late score from Kai Horstmann sealed the victory for Rob Baxter's men.

Steenson reached 1,000 Premiership points in the match

Steenson got the Chiefs' tally up and running after the Bath front row's indiscipline gave the fly-half two kickable penalties in the opening quarter.

Bath's scrum woes continued conceding a further penalty that Steenson dutifully kicked extending his side's lead to nine.

The fly-half then played an instrumental part in the first try of the match on 35 minutes when he intercepted a laboured Bath pass inside the Exeter 22 before the ball was worked wide to James Short who exploited the wide open space in front of him making 60 metres before sending Whitton over to score.

James Short continued his fine form for the Devon club since his switch from London Irish

Bath turned down the chance of three points just before the break, a choice that proved to be an inspired one, when their rolling maul bundled over the line moments later and after some consultation with the TMO over the grounding, number 8 Mafi was awarded the score.

Bath further cut the deficit a minute in to the second half, Mafi bundling over once again after a well-set rolling maul and Homer slotting the conversion from out wide taking the score to 16-14 in favour of the home side.

Max Lahiff was shown yellow on 48 minutes, his side's 15th of the season, as referee Greg Garner lost patience with Bath's persistent infringements at the scrum.

Last season's losing finalists Bath have failed to secure a victory so far in 2016

Steenson kicked a further penalty when Francois Low crept offside under his own posts but as the game entered the final ten minutes Homer responded an effort of his own reigning the home side back in to just two points ahead.

A series of Bath penalties allowed Exeter to control territory going into the final ten minutes and the Chiefs sealed the victory when Hortsmann bundled over from short range.

The conversion signalling 1,000 Premiership points for man-of-the match Steenson and cementing Exeter's position in the Premiership's top two.