Match Overview
Len Ikitau (right) scored his first Premiership try for Exeter.
Tries: Iosefa-Scott, Brown-Bampoe, Ikitau, Ridl
Conversions: Skinner, Slade 2
Penalties: Slade 3
Tries: Frost, Underhill
Conversions: Frost
Reigning champions Bath missed the opportunity to move to the top of the Premiership after suffering a 35-12 defeat at Exeter Chiefs.
The Chiefs, playing their first match since members approved an American-backed takeover of the club, took an early 6-0 lead. Bath's Quinn Roux was shown a 20-minute red card for a head-on-head collision with Henry Slade.
Shortly after, Josh Iosefa-Scott scored for the hosts, but Dan Frost responded for Bath, who performed well despite being a player down.
First Half and Sin-Binnings
Both teams had a player sin-binned within the first 15 minutes of the second half. Paul Brown-Bampoe extended Exeter's lead before Sam Underhill scored a try for Bath.
Australia international Len Ikitau's try with 15 minutes remaining secured the victory for Exeter. Campbell Ridl added a late try with five minutes left to earn a bonus point.
This marked Exeter's first league win over Bath since December 2022, moving them five points ahead of Bristol and into fourth place.
Bath, meanwhile, failed to capitalize on Northampton's heavy derby loss at Leicester on Saturday and remain in second place, two points behind Saints.
Match Details
With a strong wind advantage, Slade kicked two penalties before Roux was dismissed after colliding with Slade as the Exeter fly-half gathered a high ball.
Four minutes later, Exeter broke through as Iosefa-Scott powered over from close range following Ikitau's quick line break.
Bath showed resilience despite being a man down, winning a penalty and driving a maul over the line through former Exeter player Dan Frost.
Exeter dominated possession with the wind advantage but were hindered by small errors, leading 8-0 at halftime.
Second Half Developments
Bath's challenges increased when Tom de Glanville was sin-binned five minutes after the break. Exeter capitalized immediately with Brown-Bampoe scoring his 10th try of the season in the left corner.
Bath continued to fight back. When Campbell Ridl was yellow-carded for a head-to-head clash with Finn Russell with 26 minutes remaining, Underhill scored in the corner after Bath's forwards powered over from a close-range lineout.
However, Exeter pulled away with 15 minutes left as Bath's reduced numbers began to take a toll. Ikitau scored from close range following a penalty won on Bath's line after a break by Dafydd Jenkins.
Late in the match, Exeter's young wing prospect Campbell Ridl showcased his speed by breaking through Bath's defence to score. Slade added a third penalty in the closing moments to seal the 35-12 victory.
Team Lineups
Exeter: Woodburn; Brown-Bampoe, Slade, Ikitau, Ridl; Skinner, Varney; Sio, Norey, Iosefa-Scott, Jenkins (c), Zambonin, Hooper, Tshiunza, Vintcent.
Replacements: Dweba, Burger, Tchumbadze, Tuima, Worley, Brady, Cairns, Haydon-Wood, Hammersley.
Bath: De Glanville; Cokanasiga, Lawrence, Butt, Arundell; Russell, Spencer (c); Van Wyk, Frost, Griffin; Roux, Molony, Hill, Underhill, Barbeary.
Replacements: Tuipulotu, Obano, Du Toit, Ewels, Pepper, Carr-Smith, Carreras, Redpath.
