HOGG BOUNCES BACK TO HELP CHIEFS GO CLEAR

STUART HOGG put a nightmare fortnight behind him with a victory-clinching try for the Chiefs at Kingsholm. The Scotland full back fluffed an easy scoring opportunity against Ireland that cost his side a win in the Six Nations opener, then was arguably at fault in the build-up to the try that saw England regain the Calcutta Cup last Saturday. But last night Hogg (right) ran in a fine try on the counter-attack as Exeter logged their fifth win in six Gallagher Premiership games and moved five points clear at the top of the table. Hogg started the move, picking up the ball in his own 22 before feeding Sam Simmonds and receiving a return offload from the No 8, then accelerating down the left flank and crossing. Exeter dealt better with the heavy rain and swirling wind and led 7-3 at half-time after backrower Jacques Vermeulen powered over from close range in the 10th minute. Veteran fly-half Gareth Steenson converted and also kicked four penalties to extend their advantage, with Gloucester’s only points coming from the boot of Billy Twelvetrees. Hogg’s try took the lead to 26-3 before Gloucester hit back when Italy flanker Jake Polledri burrowed over and scored again as new wing sensation Louis Rees-Zammit was ruled to have touched down in the right-hand corner following a consultation with the TMO. But the Cherry and Whites couldn’t press on for a losing bonus point and remain a place and a point above fifth-placed Bristol, having suffered back-to-back defeats. MAKO VUNIPOLA insists he has no regrets about his business dealings with Nigel Wray that led to Saracens breaching the salary cap. The England prop was named in the report which confirmed that £450,000 was given to Vuniprop — a company owned by the Vunipola brothers — to enable them to buy a house. It contributed to Saracens being relegated from the Premiership but Vunipola said: ‘For us, no regrets at all. If I had the choice to do it again, I would do it again. Nigel presented the opportunity to us and as rugby players our careers aren’t that long. Any opportunity that can help our future after rugby, we’re more than willing to look into it.’