Exeter Chiefs suffered a home loss to Bath as their rivals gained revenge for defeat in the Champions Cup with a victory at Sandy Park.
Exeter had seen off Bath to make the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup before being beaten by Toulouse, and were chasing maximum points in a bid to try and battle into the top four - with Bath hoping for a victory of their own to maintain their title challenge.
The game would be scoreless for almost half an hour before Bath finally managed to get the breakthrough, with Alfie Barbeary mauled over the line from close range for the opening try.
After a try from Tom Cairns for the home side was then ruled out, Bath doubled their advantage as Ben Spencer - who had converted the earlier score - put the ball down after a pass from Charlie Ewels before kicking the extras to make it 14-0.
Exeter got back into the game after the break thanks to an Olly Woodburn try that was converted by Henry Slade, but quick scores from Max Ojomoh and Miles Reid secured a bonus point and put Bath out of sight.
Stu Townsend scored a second try and Exeter with ten minutes left but there was to be no comeback with the Chiefs sitting seventh in the table - five points behind Bristol in fourth.
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