Exeter finish strongly to beat Worcester in Aviva Premiership
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 01/02/16 10:14am
Exeter produced a powerful second-half performance to beat Worcester 30-15 in their Aviva Premiership clash at Sixways.
Prolific tryscorers Thomas Waldrom and James Short once again came up trumps for the Chiefs as they moved just two points behind leaders Saracens.
Both players claimed Champions Cup doubles against Ospreys seven days ago, and they added to their tallies to leave Worcester rooted in the Premiership's bottom three.
Short, Waldrom, centre Ian Whitten and flanker Don Armand posted tries during a bonus-point triumph secured through an impressive final 22 minutes after five Tom Heathcote penalties meant Worcester were level approaching the hour mark.
Fly-half Gareth Steenson kicked two penalties and two conversions, setting Exeter up nicely for next Sunday's top-of-the-table Sandy Park appointment with Sarries.
The Chiefs were by no means at their best, but it says everything about them that they still claimed a five-point maximum and once again confirmed their status this season as serious league title contenders.
Worcester, though, are at the Premiership's bottom end, and are by no means out of the relegation woods as the domestic campaign approaches its halfway point.
Exeter, back in action following their thrilling progress into the Champions Cup quarter-finals last Sunday, took just three minutes to open their account.
And it was a brilliantly-executed try as Steenson moved possession wide from a lineout, full-back Phil Dollman timed his midfield interjection perfectly and Short finished off in the corner.
Worcester had their hands full in the opening minutes, but they quickly cut the deficit, courtesy of a long-range Heathcote penalty that made it 5-3, and Chiefs suddenly had some defensive issues as Warriors wing Cooper Vuna tested them with his trademark power.
A second Heathcote penalty edged Worcester in front, only for Exeter to conjure another neat try 12 minutes before half-time as scrum-half Will Chudley initially linked with Short before handing Whitten a scoring pass.
Steenson's conversion took the visitors six points clear, but Exeter continued to infuriate referee Craig Maxwell-Keys with poor technical discipline, and Heathcote took advantage by kicking two penalties in seven minutes to make it 12-12.
Steenson and Heathcote exchanged penalties at the start of the second half, before Worcester blew a golden tryscoring chance when Heathcote's intended long pass to Vuna proved way off target and the ball rolled harmlessly into touch.
A more composed attacking unit would have made the opportunity count, but Worcester remained well and truly in contention through a combination of Heathcote's goalkicking and their own persistent tendency to infringe.
However, the Chiefs struck for a third try after 58 minutes after Steenson opted not to kick for goal, booting to touch instead, and his decision was rewarded when Exeter's forwards drove the resulting lineout, allowing Waldrom a simple finish as he collected his seventh Premiership touchdown this term.
Steenson's conversion put Exeter seven points in front, and then Armand crossed wide out before a Steenson penalty saw Exeter hit 30 points and leave Worcester looking over their shoulders, with just London Irish and Newcastle below them in the table.
