In the best game of the Aviva Premiership season to date, Exeter Chiefs made it five wins on the bounce after beating Wasps 41-27 at the Ricoh Arena

Thomas Waldrom scored three of the Chiefs six tries, in the bonus point victory which leaves Exeter top of the table ahead of Saracens visit to Newcastle

On a negative point for Exeter, and England, Henry Slade will require surgery after suffering a suspected broken leg during the game in Coventry. 

Chiefs maul opponents to build hefty lead

Just over half an hour into the match, Exeter had built a 27-6 lead over the home side on the back of forward dominance. 

Following a Gareth Steenson penalty to open the scoring, Exeter notched their first try on the back of a driving maul which was finished off by Waldrom, who was the Premiership's leading try scorer in 2014/15.

Jimmy Gopperth reduced the deficit with a penalty, only for the Chiefs to march down the other end, with Slade passing to Jack Nowell who raced away to score, with Steenson converting this time for a 15-3 lead. 

The third Exeter try was scored by Mitch Lees who dotted down off the back of another driving maul, with Waldrom doing likewise three minutes later for a 27-6 lead and a bonus point secured before half-time. 

Wasps fight back to draw sides level

Just before the break, Wasps gave themselves a chance to get back in to the game, when Frank Halai managed to collect a loose ball after pressurising Nowell to score another try in his debut season with the Midlands club. 

Four minutes into the second half and the home side drew within seven points, after Ashley Johnson scored a try following good work from Ben Jacobs and Charles Piutau in the build-up. 

Ashley Johnson celebrates his try, which had given Wasps hope of a comeback victory (image via: coventrytelegraph)

Before long the sides were level at 27-27 when an excellent run from Sam Jones put Wasps in position to launch an attack on the Exeter line, and it was Lorenzo Cittadini who barrelled over, with Gopperth converting. 

Chiefs overcome Slade departure to bag five points

With Wasps in the assendancy, Exeter returned to what had served them well in the opening half, and scored another try which centred around a driving maul, with that man Waldrom the beneficiary once more to bag a hat-trick and regain the lead for his side. 

The game was forced to halt, when Slade went down clutching his knee, before being stretchered from the field, with Exeter's Director of Rugby Rob Baxter announcing on Sunday morning, "Henry has an injury to the lower part of his right leg and it is envisaged he will operated on sometime today.

"At the moment we have set no time scale on how long he will be sidelined for. A more detailed assessment will be made following the operation."

The injury didn't hold Exeter back though, and they confirmed the win with their sixth try which was finished off by Moray Low, with Steenson converting once more for the 41-27 victory. 

The two teams turn their attention back to European rugby next weekend, with Exeter hosting Clermont Auvergne, whilst Wasps welcome a struggling Bath side who they have already beaten at the Ricoh this season.

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