Barkley boots Bath clear
Bath extended their unbeaten Aviva Premiership streak to five games as an Olly Barkley penalty gave them a 12-9 win over Exeter.
Last Updated: 27/02/11 1:13pm
Bath extended their unbeaten Aviva Premiership streak to five games as a late Olly Barkley penalty propelled them to a 12-9 win over Exeter.
The Chiefs named an unchanged starting XV for the clash between West Country rivals at Sandy Park, while the visitors brought in Jack Cuthbert and Ben Williams.
Exeter made a brilliant start to the contest and looked to have taken the lead five minutes in, but Bath left wing Tom Biggs beat Jason Shoemark to Gareth Steenson's kick.
The decision was referred to the television match official by referee David Rose and the try was disallowed, although play was brought back for a Chiefs penalty, which Steenson converted.
Five minutes later, Bath were level as Barkley slotted over his first of four penalties after front row were penalised at a 22-metre scrum on the left.
Bath were on the back foot again midway through the half and gave away a penalty 15 metres out in front of the posts, which Steenson easily knocked over to make it 6-3.
Steenson then extended the Exeter advantage on 30 minutes with his third penalty of the game after an infringement at the breakdown, this time from just outside the 22 on the right.
Lead
Bath brought themselves back into the contest as half-time approached, Barkley's left boot making no mistake from out on the right - but Exeter still went in 9-6 ahead at half-time.
The visitors made a strong start after the interval but squandered a try-scoring opportunity when centre Ben Williams dropped the ball with the line at his mercy.
However, Bath levelled the scores as Barkley notched his third penalty in the 48th minute.
Exeter failed to put any more pressure on for another 15 minutes, but even when they did, turnover ball allowed the visitors to keep the Chiefs at bay, while Bath's own attacks were unable to breach the whitewash.
Bath scrum-half Michael Claassens was fortunate not to be shown the yellow card for a body-check on Shoemark as he chased his own kick ahead following a break by Neil Clarke.
Exeter had two chances to put themselves back ahead but Steenson was off target with both his long-range attempts.
The away side kept pressing as they searched for the first try of the game and with the referee playing advantage, fly-half Butch James had a 30-metre drop-goal attempt charged down.
But play was pulled back by the referee, allowing Barkley to nail a 15-metre penalty which nudged Bath into the lead for the first time in the game in the 78th minute.
