Premiership: Bristol Bears win high-scoring clash with Exeter Chiefs, Sale Sharks edge past Wasps

Bristol Bears picked up a much-needed 40-33 victory over Exeter Chiefs in their final home fixture of the Premiership season on Friday.

Tries from Callum Sheedy, Charles Piutau (2), Alapati Leiua, Toby Fricker and Luke Morahan helped the Bears to a bonus-point success at Ashton Gate.

Santiago Grondona, Josh Hodge, James Kenny, Olly Woodburn and Dave Ewers crossed for Exeter, with this defeat denting their play-off aspirations.

The result leaves Exeter four points behind fourth-placed Northampton Saints, as their knockout hopes hang by a thread in what’s been a tough season.

The Chiefs fought their way back from 14 points adrift in an 11-try thriller, but wing Fricker’s interception try and a later Morahan score saw Bristol home.

Piutau and Morahan returned for Bristol’s final home game of the season, with Leiua, John Afoa and Dave Attwood making their last Ashton Gate appearances before moving to new clubs next term.

Exeter boss Rob Baxter made four changes to the team beaten by Saracens last time out, including starts for Hodge, Ewers and prop Harry Williams.

The Chiefs dominated early territory, and that looked to have reaped its reward after 11 minutes when Stuart Hogg touched down wide out, but the try was disallowed following a knock-on in build-up play.

Bristol spent almost the entire opening quarter defending, but a combination of aggressive tackling and Exeter errors meant that it remained scoreless.

The home side then struck from their first attack after Exeter skipper Jack Yeandle infringed, with Bristol’s England scrum-half Harry Randall taking a quick penalty and freeing Sheedy on a clear run to the line.

Sheedy added the conversion in an impressive response to being left out of the Wales squad earlier this