Aviva Premiership: Exeter Chiefs far too strong for Gloucester
Exeter overpowered Gloucester to secure a comfortable 29-12 victory in their Aviva Premiership clash at Kingsholm.
Last Updated: 06/10/13 5:20pm
Flanker Ben White and skipper Dean Mumm crossed the try-line while 19 points were added from the boot of Gareth Steenson, who could afford to miss three of his first four shots at goal.
The home side also scored two tries through Martyn Thomas and Jonny May, but a lone conversion from Freddie Burns were the only other points they mustered.
Gloucester have now lost three of their first five league games and rugby director Nigel Davies has issues to address ahead of the Heineken Cup opener against Perpignan next week.
Exeter dominated territory early on, but their cause was not helped by Steenson missing two penalties before he eventually found his range after 19 minutes.
Gloucester responded with a fine try, former England centre Mike Tindall being heavily involved before Billy Twelvetrees played in Thomas, who cut an incisive angle and finished off in style.
Lead
Burns could not add the conversion, allowing Exeter to edge back ahead when Steenson slotted over his second three-pointer.
Gloucester were powerless to prevent Exeter from surging forward and it was White who crossed for the hosts first try, with Steenson's conversion making it 13-5 at half-time.
After claiming successive wins against Northampton and Newcastle, Gloucester were a shadow of the team that delivered those results, and am off-the-ball challenge from Tindall allowed Steenson to extend the advantage by three points after the break.
Exeter were far more controlled and disciplined than the hosts, especially inside the opposition half, and they enjoyed sustained control entering the final quarter.
Gloucester could not cope with the Chiefs' technical expertise, and the visitors extended their lead through another irresistible display of support work that ended with Mumm crashing over.
Steenson's conversion gave Exeter a 23-5 lead, and they maintained a vice-like grip on the contest despite Gloucester flickering into life through a brilliant May finish when he collected Burns' pass one-handed.
Burns was given a yellow card when an apparent deliberate knock-on stemmed an Exeter attack, but the Chiefs had already done enough to send themselves into next weekend's opening Heineken Cup appointment with Cardiff Blues in confident mood.