Exeter Chiefs vs London Irish match report: Gareth Steenson ends Irish away run

Exeter Chiefs 44 London Irish 24

Gareth Steenson has been a key factor in Exeter's impressive rise to the Premiership top four (Getty Images)

Gareth Steenson kicked 19 points and Exeter ran in five tries as the Exiles succumbed to their first defeat of the season on the road.

With the Chiefs' scrum-half Will Chudley holding the ball on the tee, fly-half Steenson got the first points. The Chiefs then conceded a penalty which Shane Geraghty slotted to level, but they scored the first try through Carl Rimmer.

Chudley found Steenson, who passed to centre Henry Slade and he found a gap, then Chudley intercepted a pass and kicked for Matt Jess to chase, but full-back Fenby was first to the ball. The visitors conceded another penalty, though, which Steenson put between the uprights.

Steenson fed Jack Nowell and he slipped the ball to lock Damian Welch, who stormed over for the Chiefs' third try.

The Chiefs secured a try-scoring bonus point with Welch crossing again. Nowell side-stepped before offloading to Don Armand, who raced in for the fifth try which Steenson then converted.

Hayden Thomas attempted a quick tap only to be pushed by hooker David Paice, who was sin-binned. Irish crossed for three late tries, two from flanker Blair Cowan and one from Andrew Fenby.

Exeter Chiefs: Dollman; Nowell, Slade, Hill (Whitten, 64), Jess (James); G Steenson, Chudley (Thomas, 57); Rimmer (Sturgess, 66), Yeandle (capt; Taione, 66), Francis (Low, 20), Lees (Caldwell, 60), Welch, Ewers, Armand, Waldrom (Horstmann, 59).

London Irish: Fenby; Lewington (Short, h-t), Sheridan, Geraghty, Ojo; Noakes, Steele (O'Leary, 38); Court, Paice, Aulika, Skivington, Sinclair (Leo, h-t), Low, Guest (Cowans , h-t), Narraway.

Referee: Ian Tempest.