Hat-trick for Bates but little to savour

A GAME of 14 tries and 90 points suggests another Premiership thriller, but it was more pantomime with both sides bungling restarts in the first half in tit-for-tat scoring.

- By PAUL REES

It was unfulfilling rather than inspiring no matter that both teams were committed to attack. Exeter went into the game on the back of a second coaching change of the season but their greatest quality was persistence and no relegation means they can plan for next season.

Bristol stay second but if they are to stay in the top four, never mind get to Twickenham, they will need to defend rucks with greater awareness and mix it up more.

The first half produced 10 tries, a Premiership record. Many were soft, a few were well constructed and there was also an element of skill on a day when defences were too easily shredded.

Bristol’s ability to bring runners in from deep made them a threat every time they had the ball, which was a lot. They almost scored from the first move of the game after Christ Tshiunza passed the kick off into touch.