Aviva Premiership: Wasps battle back to edge Chiefs
Last Updated: 04/09/16 8:33pm
Wasps overturned a half-time deficit to run out 25-20 winners over Exeter Chiefs at the Ricoh Arena on Sunday.
The Chiefs were 20-8 ahead with the third quarter drawing to a close before Wasps fought back into the game.
Centre Jimmy Gopperth, scrum-half Dan Robson and man of the match Tommy Taylor all scored tries for Wasps, while Gopperth added two conversions and two penalties for a 15-point haul.
Exeter bossed the opening 50 minutes, taking charge through touchdowns from No 8 Thomas Waldrom and scrum-half Will Chudley, with fly-half Henry Slade kicking 10 points, but they were undone by Wasps' strong final-quarter display.
Danny Cipriani and his former Sale team-mate Taylor both started following their summer moves, with two more Wasps newcomers - prop Marty Moore and lock Matt Symons - on bench duty, while Exeter boss Rob Baxter handed a debut to former Bath centre Ollie Devoto, who partnered Sam Hill in midfield.
And it took the Chiefs just four minutes to open their account, as they delivered a trademark try from a driven lineout for Waldrom.
Slade added the conversion, but Cipriani showed some promising early touches for Wasps, almost creating an opportunity for wing Christian Wade following a clever kick into space, before a Slade penalty took Exeter 10 points ahead.
Wasps could not establish any consistent foothold inside Exeter's 22, and the Chiefs went close to extending their advantage through an impressive Olly Woodburn break, but he could not get the final pass away for the try.
The home side, though, moved up a gear as half-time approached after Gopperth had opened their account with a penalty.
Wasps then conjured a superb score when No 9 Robson capitalised on Guy Thompson's midfield surge to send Gopperth sprinting over in the corner.
But Exeter fought back immediately, ending the opening 40 minutes by reasserting control as Chudley and Hill linked impressively before Chudley skipped outside Wasps' last defender and claimed a try that Slade converted for a 17-8 interval advantage.
Another Slade penalty put Exeter 12 points ahead, yet Wasps replied in style through some slick handling that freed Wade from just inside his own half, and he found Robson on a supporting inside run, with the scrum-half racing unopposed run to the line.
Gopperth's conversion narrowed the gap to 20-15, and Wasps' momentum saw them score another try 14 minutes from time, on this occasion after their forwards blasted open Exeter's defence and Taylor touched down following an impressive show of power.
Gopperth's conversion put Wasps ahead for the first time, before Slade sent an angled penalty chance narrowly wide with eight minutes left, and that proved to be Exeter's last scoring chance as Gopperth sealed the deal through a long-range penalty.
