Alex Cuthbert scores his first try for Exeter Chiefs as they defeat Sale Sharks to remain top of the table

Exeter Chiefs 35-18 Sale Sharks: Last season’s table-toppers may have scored five tries but Sale pushed them much harder than the scoreline suggested

(Getty)

Exeter maintained their exemplary start to their season with a third bonus point victory in succession to remain at the top of the Gallagher Premiership table.

However, their latest success, 35-18, was far from straightforward as Sale battled hard throughout and were unlucky to come away from Sandy Park with nothing.

Exeter scored five tries through Santiago Cordero, Jack Maunder, Jonny Hill, Tom Lawday and Alex Cuthbert. Joe Simmonds converted three and Gareth Steenson two.

Marland Yarde and Bryn Evans scored Sale's tries with AJ MacGinty adding two penalties and a conversion.

Exeter suffered two big blows when international back rowers Matt Kvesic and Sam Simmonds withdrew through illness - Lawday and Sean Lonsdale were drafted in to replace them in the starting line-up.

Two minutes into the game, Chiefs received another setback when they fell behind to a penalty from MacGinty.

However the hosts were not behind for long as Simmonds rounded former Exeter player James Phillips to split the Sale defence wide open and send Cordero in under the posts.

Joe Simmonds kicked three conversions for Exeter (Getty)

Simmonds knocked over the conversion but a second penalty from MacGinty for a high tackle by Luke Cowan-Dickie kept Sale in contention.

MacGinty then created his side's first try of the game when his perfectly judged chip was collected by Yarde, who just held off the attentions of a stuttering Jack Nowell to sneak in at the corner.

MacGinty converted with a splendid kick for Sale to lead 13-7 at the end of the first quarter - but their pack were in trouble at every scrum.

Under pressure they conceded a number of penalties and the Chiefs capitalised when Hill drove over from close range, before MacGinty was off target with a long range penalty attempt - meaning the visitors trailed 14-13 at the interval.

Sale put up a better fight than the scoreline suggested (Getty)

The hosts began the second half strongly and a rare mistake from MacGinty provided the opportunity for them to score their third try.

The American international dropped a high ball to gift possession to Exeter and Henry Slade made him pay by evading a weak tackle from Mark Jennings to provide Maunder with the scoring pass.

Sale lost Denny Solomona, who limped off with a leg injury, before Exeter lock Hill and Sale skipper Jonathan Ross were yellow carded following a melee in which a number of players were involved.

The hosts brought on Steenson and Cuthbert for the final quarter but the Welsh wing missed a tackle on Sale replacement Paolo Odogwu to allow him to run 40 metres and set up a try for Evans.

Ollie Devoto applauds the Exeter Chiefs supporters after the victory (Getty)

Within minutes, Cuthbert atoned for his effort by collecting a pass from Phil Dollman, wrong-footing a stumbling Odogwu and crossing for Chiefs' bonus point try.

Lawday's late effort provided a final scoreline which was harsh on the visitors.

Teams

Exeter: Dollman, Nowell, Slade, Devoto, Cordero, J Simmonds, J Maunder, Moon, Cowan-Dickie, Williams, Atkins, J Hill, Armand, Kvesic, S Simmonds.

Replacements: Yeandle, Hepburn, Francis, Salmon, Dennis, S Maunder, Steenson, Cuthbert.

Sale: McGuigan, Solomona, S James, Jennings, Yarde, MacGinty, Cliff, Harrison, Neild, John, Evans, Phillips, Ross, T Curry, Beaumont.

Replacements: Webber, Tarus, J Jones, Strauss, B Curry, Warr, L James, Odogwu.

Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)