Mackinder try makes it five in a row for Chiefs

EXETER CHIEFS kept pace with those above them as they made it five wins on the bounce by seeing off a determined Warriors side in freezing conditions.

The Chiefs, who have now won five games on the spin, made Worcester pay for not taking advantage of good early field position gifted by winger Vicky Laflin missing a kick to touch.

USA flanker Kate Zackary dotted down for her sixth try of the season to punish Worcester, after Exeter had been held up following an initial break from hooker Emily Tuttosi.

Full-back Niamh Terry then capped her first start for the side with a try thanks to the cross-field kick of Taylor Black that created the try-scoring chance.

The Warriors had the final say of the half though with centre Jade

Shekells finding space out wide to score.

It was the Warriors who had the better of the possession and territory in the second half, too. Captain Carys Phillips made it a two-point game as she crashed over from the back of a powerful rolling maul.

Worcester continued to ask questions of a fatigued

Chiefs defence but it was the visitors who were to find the decisive score.

A scything break from replacement flanker Rachel Johnson saw Chiefs to within sight of the Warriors line before the impressive Black spun the ball wide to winger Garnet Mackinder to dot down and secure victory.