Joe Simmonds kicks Exeter Chiefs past Saracens to extend lead at the top of the Aviva Premiership

Roundup: Harlequins claimed their first Premiership victory of 2018 against Bath and Leicester kept alive their hopes of a play-off place with a convincing 34-5 win over Worcester

Phil Dollman outpaces Nathan Earle to touch down in the corner (Getty)

Exeter extended their advantage as Aviva Premiership leaders and took another major step towards a home play-off by subduing Saracens 24-12 at Sandy Park, as the top-of-the-table clash lived up to expectations.

Chiefs fly-half Joe Simmonds – younger brother of England back-row forward Sam Simmonds, who featured off the bench after suffering a shoulder injury three weeks ago – kicked four penalties and provided a key assist for full-back Phil Dollman’s try.

Exeter’s superior scrum was rewarded with a second-half penalty try, while Saracens claimed touchdowns from flanker Ben Earl and centre Marcelo Bosch, with scrum-half Ben Spencer converting Earl’s 33rd-minute touchdown.

Elsewhere, England prop Kyle Sinckler was among the try scorers as Harlequins claimed their first Premiership victory of 2018 with a hard-fought 20-5 success over Bath. It ends a four-game losing streak in the league for Quins, who were much-improved defensively in a match which was admittedly short of top quality.

While they can hope to use this result as the start of a better run of form, the loss is a damaging one for Bath’s play-off hopes, as they remained five points adrift of the top four following a wasteful display.

Leicester kept alive their hopes of a play-off place with a convincing 34-5 win over Worcester at Sixways, and Tom Cruse’s 76th minute charge-down try enabled Wasps to seal a nervy 24-16 home win over London Irish.

PA