Exeter Chiefs 51 Doncaster LKnights 15: Knights go down to Chiefs again

Doncaster missed two many tackles and played the last half-an-hour with 14 men as replacement flanker Adam Kettle saw red for an off-the-ball offence.

Exeter went 10-0 up inside 10 minutes as Danny Gray kicked a penalty and converted Richie Baxter's try. Ali Warnock pegged the score back on 15 minutes with a penalty after Stevie McColl had missed an earlier chance.

But the half belonged to the hosts, who scored twice more before the break. Captain Tom Hayes scored after Haydn Thomas cut through the defence from the back of a lineout and their forwards barged their way over from a five-metre lineout. Gray converted one to give his side a 22-3 lead before Knights captain Neil Cochrane drove his way over from the back of a ruck.

The second half started at a frantic pace with the Chiefs scoring two tries in the opening five minutes, full-back Phil Dollman and wing Steve Jones both finishing off sweeping moves in the right corner.

Things took a turn for the worse on 52 minutes for Doncaster as Kettle received his red card.

Exeter took advantage of the extra man, scoring three further tries. The first was a penalty try, the second came on the back of another good effort from the pack as hooker Simon Alcott grounded the ball and, in the closing minutes, Jones grabbed his second.

Impressive fly-half Gray kicked the final conversion to cap a fine performance and take his team to the 50-point mark.

Doncaster did score a consolation try in the 60th minute as scrum-half Nicky Griffiths scampered through for a converted try.

Exeter Chiefs: P Dollman, M Jess, N Sestaret, B Rennie, M Foster, D Gray, H Thomas, B Sturgess, N Clark, H Tui, T Hayes, J Hanks, T Johnson, J Scaysbrook, R Baxter. Replacements: S Alcott, C Budgen, D Gannon, A Miller, C Stuart-Smith, S Jones, M Cornwell.

Doncaster Knights: S McColl, A Wright, C Briers, B Armitage, O Goss, A Warnock, N Griffiths, T Toke, S Lawrie, N Tau, B Griffiths, G Townson, A Boyde, S Grainger, N Cochrane. Replacements: L Thiede, S Boden, D Smith, A Kettle, C Hallam, J Brooks, A Carter.

Referee: D Rose.