Exeter beat Sale 44-16 but still miss out on a play-off spot
Last Updated: 19/05/15 1:46pm
A record crowd at Sandy Park saw Exeter Chiefs finish their Aviva Premiership campaign by running in seven tries in their 44-16 victory over Sale but still miss out on the play-offs.
Instead it will be Saracens - big winners against London Welsh - who go into next Saturday's semi-final at leaders Northampton, leaving Exeter to compete in next season's European Champions Cup. Defeat for Sale means they will play in Europe's second-tier competition.
Exeter made the perfect start, putting the visitors under pressure at a scrum and conceding a penalty 22 metres out and in front of the posts. Fly-half Gareth Steenson stepped up to slot the ball between the uprights after just two minutes.
Exeter maintained the pressure, wearing down the Sharks defence, and their patience paid off, working the ball across the field until Jack Nowell gave a long pass out for wing Ian Whitten to touch down in the corner.
Sale found it hard to break down the Chiefs defence but fly-half Danny Cipriani landed two simple penalties to reduce the arrears before they took the lead when No 8 Beaumont squeezed in at the corner, avoiding a Nowell tackle.
The Chiefs came back into the game straight away and Nowell crossed for their second try which Steenson converted from out wide to restore the advantage three minutes before the break.
Both sides took their time to settle into the second half but it was the Chiefs who were the first to trouble the scoreboard as scrum-half Will Chudley gave the scoring pass to flanker Ben White who powered over the line and Steenson added the extras.
The visitors wasted no time in responding as prop Vadim Cobilas gave a long pass out to Beaumont to cross out wide for his second try, to reduce the arrears to 22-16 with 30 minutes still to play.
Dean Mumm made a break before offloading to Chudley who was tackled high by centre Johnny Leota. Referee Wayne Barnes sent Leota to the sin bin after reviewing the incident with TMO Geoff Warren.
Chudley had to leave the field and Steenson was off target with the 15-metre penalty from almost in front of the posts. But the Chiefs took advantage of the extra man as Nowell gave a long pass out to wing Matt Jess for the bonus-point try.
Cueto received a standing ovation after he was yellow-carded nine minutes from time for a deliberate knock-on in the last of his 303 games in 14 seasons for the Sharks, a career which also saw him gain 55 caps for England.
Sale finished the game with 13 men as replacement prop Ross Harrison was shown a red card by referee Barnes and Alex Brown a yellow after some fists flew.
Exeter spread themselves wide and replacement wing McGuigan crossed for the final try.
