Heineken Cup: Exeter off the mark in Pool 5 after win over Scarlets
Exeter gained their first ever Heineken Cup win with a 22-16 victory over Scarlets in Pool 5.
Last Updated: 08/12/12 6:23pm
Both sides had lost their opening two matches to leave themselves with an uphill task but it was Exeter who stepped up after taking control early on.
From a scrum, full-back Luke Arscott made a break through midfield and it ended with Haydn Thomas crossing after just five minutes to score Exeter's first ever try in the competition. Steenson added the extras.
Wales fly-half Rhys Priestland, who was later carried from the field with an ankle injury, kicked two penalties to put Scarlets on the board but three Steenson penalties gave the visitors a 16-6 half-time lead.
And it got worse for the home side as Steenson was on target with his fourth penalty goal on 49 minutes to give Exeter a 13-point lead.
Aled Thomas kicked a fine long range penalty for Scarlets but that was cancelled out four minutes later with Steenson's fifth penalty as Chiefs led 22-9 on the hour mark.
But despite their lead the Chiefs were forced to defend their 22 and in the process lost prop Ben Moon to the sin bin for collapsing a scrum.
And with the extra man the Scarlets earned a penalty try from French referee Mathieu Raynal on 67 minutes to cut the Chiefs lead to 22-16.
The Scarlets went in search of the winning score but despite hammering at Exeter's 22 the visitors held on for a famous win.