Exeter stroll on as Bath run cold

BATH’S decision to rest 13 players at Saracens with this fixture in mind saw coach Todd Blackadder criticised for what some saw as devaluing the Premiership. And Blackadder’s rotation did not pay off as unbeaten Exeter stormed to the top of the table with this bonus-point success. Only two Bath players who began the 50-27 defeat at Allianz Park started here — Rhys Priestland and Semesa Rokoduguni (right) — but a second-half yellow card for Rokoduguni proved to be the game’s crucial moment. Freddie Burns’s penalty had opened the scoring and Bath moved further clear when Rokoduguni chipped ahead, then captain Priestland won the chase to collect and dive over. Burns added the extras. Exeter were gifted a way back into the game. Gareth Steenson kicked a penalty and then Stu Townsend picked off Burns’s pass. The scrum-half scored and after a second Burns penalty, Steenson’s grubber to Don Armand on the right wing saw the England man finish neatly. Steenson converted the first try for a narrow interval lead. Burns and Steenson swapped penalties when the game resumed before Rokoduguni was yellow-carded for deliberately knocking on a Santiago Cordero pass. A man light, Bath went back ahead through Burns’s strike from long range but Exeter then laid siege to the home line. Dave Ewers emerged from a pile of bodies to touch down and replacement Ian Whitten — binned late on — claimed the crucial fourth try. Jack Nowell added gloss to the score after Henry Slade raced clear, so Chris Cook’s try was mere consolation for the outclassed home side.