Sam Simmonds and Henry Slade continue strong starts to press England cases as Exeter Chiefs beat Wasps

Wasps 31-42 Exeter Chiefs: England pair score tries for the second week running to help fight back from a half-time 24-21 deficit and hold on for victory

Henry Slade dives over to score a try in Exeter's victory over Wasps (Getty)

Exeter beat Wasps 42-31 in an enthralling contest at the Ricoh Arena to continue their impressive start to the Gallagher Premiership season.

After last week's 40-point demolition of Leicester at Sandy Park, the visitors overcame a 24-21 half-time deficit to run out deserved winners.

Sam Simmonds and Henry Slade both scored two tries for Chiefs, with Santiago Cordero and Don Armand also crossing and Gareth Steenson converting all six.

Elliot Daly, Josh Bassett, Dan Robson and Nathan Hughes scored Wasps' tries, with Billy Searle adding three conversions and a penalty. Lima Sopoaga added a conversion.

Wasps made the better start to take the lead in the fourth minute with a splendid individual try from Daly. A handling move from Wasps appeared to have broken down 35 metres from the Chiefs' line but Daly resurrected it by seizing the loose ball, then side-stepped two defenders to score.

Elliot Daly scored an early try the kick-start the points-fest (Getty) (Getty Images)

Within minutes, Exeter were level when some skilful handling from their three-quarters created a try for Cordero.

However Wasps' response was immediate with Christian Wade claiming possession from the restart, enabling Searle to chip through for Bassett to win the race for the touchdown.

The frenetic nature of the game continued with a fourth try as Simmonds finished off a driving line-out to leave the scores level at 14-14 at the end of the first quarter.

Exeter took the lead for the first time when Slade sailed outside debutant, Brad Shields to cruise an unopposed 22 metres to the line.

Chiefs' pack were becoming increasingly dominant and it was against the run of play when Wasps reduced the deficit with a long distance penalty from Searle, before regaining the lead when Hughes forced his way over from close range.

Josh Bassett dots the ball down to score a try for Wasps (Getty)

It was a first Premiership try for Hughes in more than two-and-a-half years, with Searle's third successful conversion giving his side a 24-21 interval advantage.

However, the hosts were dealt three blows in quick succession four minutes after the restart.

First Shields departed for a head injury assessment before Simmonds crashed over for his second try, again from a driving line-out.

Worse was to follow when Slade picked off a Searle pass to outpace the cover defence and Exeter were in control with a 35-24 lead.

Hughes was another injury casualty for Wasps, before New Zealand international Sopoaga made his debut as a replacement for Searle.

San Simmonds charged over Dan Robson (PA)

Alex Cuthbert, became another Premiership debutant when he came on for Wasps with 13 minutes remaining.

Robson's try set up a tense finale - but Armand crossed the whitewash in the last minute to guarantee victory.

Teams

Wasps: Daly, Wade, de Jongh, Lovobalavu, Bassett, Searle, Robson, B. Harris, Taylor, Brookes, Launchbury, Rowlands, Shields, Atkinson, Hughes.

Replacements: Cruse, Zhvania, Stuart, Gaskell, Johnson, Simpson, Sopoaga, Miller.

Exeter: Dollman, Whitten, Slade, Devoto, Cordero, Steenson, Townsend, Hepburn, Yeandle, Francis, Atkins, S. Skinner, Armand, Kvesic, S. Simmonds.

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Holmes, Williams, Salmon, Lonsdale, Maunder, J. Simmonds, Cuthbert.

Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)

PA