Exeter 34-24 Newcastle: Chiefs return to winning ways

Exeter are now unbeaten in 11 Premiership fixtures at Sandy Park

Exeter Chiefs returned to winning ways with a ten-point victory over Newcastle at Sandy Park.

After last week's defeat at Leicester, Chiefs overcame the loss of Jack Nowell with a facial injury to move back above Newcastle in the Premiership table.

Nic White, Lachie Turner and Sam Simmonds scored Exeter's tries. There was also a penalty try award with Gareth Steenson converting all three and adding two penalties.

Will Welch, Alex Tait, Vereniki Goneva and Juan Pablo Socino scored tries for Newcastle with Toby Flood adding two conversions.

Newcastle dominated the opening five minutes and should have taken the lead but their centre, Socino, lost the ball in the tackle as he drove for the line from a 5m scrum.

The visitors were soon made to pay for their wastefulness as Chiefs took their first chance for points when White sniped over from close range.

Newcastle Falcons had won their last three away Premiership games before the trip to Sandy Park

Steenson converted before kicking a simple penalty to give his side a 10-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

At that stage, Chiefs suffered a blow when Nowell left the field with a cut but they soon overcame this setback to score a second try. Some deft footwork from White skilfully created an easy run-in for Turner, who had only just switched to the wing in Nowell's absence.

After 31 minutes, Falcons got on the scoresheet when Welch forced his way over from a driving line-out but Sonatane Takulua was badly off target with the conversion attempt.

Nowell did not return so Phil Dollman became a full replacement before Simmonds scored Exeter's third. The No 8 powered away, and with Olly Woodburn outside him, Simmonds chose to go it alone and evade two defenders and score.

Vereniki Goneva is halted by the Chiefs at Sandy Park

Two minutes before half-time Newcastle kept in contention when Goneva sent Socino over to leave Falcons trailing 24-10 at the interval.

Immediately after the restart, Socino was shown a yellow card for leading with his forearm into a tackle by Ian Whitten, with Steenson kicking the resulting penalty.

In Socino's absence, Exeter pressurised their opponents but the concession of careless penalties prevented them from taking advantage so the centre was able to return with no damage done.

Flood was introduced simultaneously for his first appearance since returning to Newcastle and he soon made an impact with a well-judged pass to send Tait over.

Exeter replied to seal the game with their bonus-point try when a massive forward drive was illegally dragged down by DTH van der Merwe, who was sin-binned before a penalty try award.

With four minutes remaining, Newcastle picked up their bonus-point when Goneva crossed for their fourth try.