Chiefs cruise into the semi-finals

For all the turmoil of a difficult season in the Gallagher Premiership, Exeter Chiefs are one very winnable game away from reaching the final of the Premiership Rugby Cup.

A sunny Sandy Park welcomed Sale on Saturday afternoon and the visitors soon wished they had stayed at home, as the Chiefs ran in four first-half tries from Tom Wyatt (2), Josh Hodge and Paul Brown-Bampoe.

Sale did snatch a consolation score after the break but that merely riled Exeter into more explosive attacking rugby. The in-form Brown-Bampoe added another and further scores from Greg Fisilau and Jacques Vermuelen took the Chiefs to a half-century.

Awaiting Exeter in the last four will be Ealing Trailfrinders from the Rugby Championship, as they stunned Northampton with an outstanding 43-26 triumph at Franklin Gardens. While the Chiefs will have home advantage in the semi-final, this result is enough evidence to not take Ealing lightly.