Error-strewn display ends in loss

It’s a good job Bath Rugby rested their players for this clash with Exeter Chiefs. In truth, the preservation of their “firstchoice” troops had little relevance to the defeat against a team which seemingly doesn’t know how to lose. The unbeaten visitors were sloppy by their standards yet they still won by 15 points and picked up their fifth bonus point in six. It shows how far ahead of their hosts they remain in terms of confidence, composure and title credentials. It also exposed the frailties with which the team in blue, black and white have become synonymous. Having started with aggression, intent and pace to lead 10-0 thanks to a Freddie Burns penalty and a converted Rhys Priestland try, they made so many mistakes and gifted Chiefs chances. They tried to offload and get the ball wide, but it was all too frantic. The intent was there but the precision absent. Three or four phases was usually all they could string together before a ball was spilled or a pass bobbled along the Rec turf. Bath had the better of the opening quarter, hen the jitters and brain fades struck. Not for the first time this season Freddie Burns - playing at full-back rather than ten - threw an intercept to Stu Townsend could not reel him in, and all of a sudden it was 10-10. Burns put Bath back in front, but they lost possession in their own half, allowing Gavin Steenson to set away Don armand in the corner with a grubber. The teams traded penalties, Bath holding firm with Semesa Rokoduguni in the bin, before Dave Ewers completed a catch and drive try for Exeter. Chiefs scored again when Jack nowell handed off Taulupe Faletau and sent Ian Whitten away to score. They added a fifth try when Zach Mercer spilled, leading to a move finished by Nowell to complete the scoring, despite a disallowed try for Joe Cokanasiga.