Super-sub Billy tames the Bears
BILLY Keast powered over in the closing seconds to maintain Exeter’s winning record since lockdown and move 11 points clear at the top of the Premiership.
A much-changed Exeter side led 15-0 before the break, but Bristol replied with 17 unanswered points either side of the interval at Ashton Gate.
Ioan Lloyd looked to have won it for the hosts before replacement prop Keast’s late try.
Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter said: “Tonight showed that the players have got a really good understanding about how to win a game of rugby.
“We turned up and were physical, we turned up and worked hard. That allowed us to hang in the game, and we converted our opportunity at the end.
“To stay in the fight and come through it, I can’t credit the players enough.”
Only winger Olly Woodburn remained from the Exeter starting XV which had won at Sale on Friday, and victory against the second-placed Bears strengthened the Chiefs’ position as title favourites.
Outside centre Phil Dollman stepped his way through Bristol’s backline for the game’s first points and then wing Woodburn fed scrum-half Sam Hidalgo-Clyne to touch down for his first Chiefs try.
Bristol had threatened a reply either side of the interval and finished off two well-worked moves to complete the turnaround, with star summer signing Semi Radradra producing an excellent offload in the build-up to Piers O’Conor’s try and Luke Morahan also going over.
Gareth Steenson’s penalty made it 18-17 in Exeter’s favour, only for Welsh teenager Lloyd to outpace the Chiefs’ backline with an arcing run to touch down in the right corner.
Exeter upped the ante in the final minutes with skipper Jack Yeandle leading from the front and the pressure told as Keast forced his way over from a ruck.
Bristol boss Pat Lam said: “Exeter played well and we fell behind, but we got back into the game and should have closed it out.
“We will look pretty closely about why we didn’t finish things off. There were a couple of system errors, and they took their tries well and suddenly you are 15-3 down.
“We showed that when we got a chance to play our game we can be dangerous, but it was disappointing at the end.
“Every game I have been involved in against Exeter has been a one-score game. We will take the (losing bonus) point and we now have another tough game at Sale.”