Exeter Set Up Bath Tie In Knock-Out Stages
Exeter Chiefs set up a tie with Bath in the next round of the Investec Champions Cup despite falling to defeat in the final group game of the competition against French side Bayonne.
The Vertu Motors-backed side had already secured a home tie with three wins from three in the competition but faced a challenge to try and win Pool Three after rivals Northampton grabbed a fourth victory in the competition against Munster prior to kick-off.
Bayonne were already out of the competition and with the pressure off, were able to race into a 26-7 lead in the first half as Tom Spring, Kote Mikautadze, Aurelien Callandret and Victor Hannoun all crossed the line and Thomas Dolhagaray kicked three conversions.
Dan Frost got the lone reply for the visitors and shortly after tbe break, Dafydd Jenkins and Rus Tuima both crossed the line to bring the gap between the two teams down to 26-17.
At that stage, Exeter looked set to take a losing bonus point that would have seen them go up against defending champions La Rochelle in the next round, but a double score from Federico Mori – both of which were converted by Dolhagaray – gave Bayonne a 40-17 victory that leaves Exeter facing a local derby in the next round.
The Chiefs return to league action this weekend with a trip to Saracens.