Chiefs book slot in the Cup Final

Exeter Chiefs will take on Bath in the final of the Premiership Rugby Cup after a tense 28-24 victory over Championship visitors Ealing Trailfinders.

Sandy Park was treated to an enthralling game of rugby, as Ealing demonstrated the strength of the second tier in a semi-final that could have gone either way.

After a scruffy start to the game, Ealing laid down the early marker with a penalty, quickly followed by a try, but the Chiefs responded with a powerful maul that created room for Josh Hodge to get the home side on the scoreboard.

Exeter were building momentum and the visitors buckled, conceding a penalty try for illegally stopping a driving maul with the try-line in sight. It all added up to a 14-10 lead for the Chiefs at half-time.

Ealing regrouped at the interval and were back in front with an excellent try, duly converted to heap pressure back on the Premiership hosts. Pressure turned into panic when Ealing crossed again to lead 14-24.

Exeter needed something and, despite being behind, there was a pleasing zip about the Chiefs, with Ethan Roots powering through a gap in the Ealing defence to put his side back in the game.

The Chiefs now had momentum and confidence, with Ealing beginning to creak under the onslaught, as a poor handling error allowed Tommy Wyatt to pick up possession and his superb running was too much for the visitors, piercing through the defence to give his side a deserved lead.

Ealing threw everything at the Chiefs in the closing stages and a try would have won it for the Championship outfit, but Exeter held on for an entertaining victory and, after all their struggles in the league season, the Sandy Park Trophy Cabinet is one game away from a new resident.