Amid the current gushing torrent of Prem tries here was a reminder that winning still trumps all else. Exeter finally have their first, relieving, victory of the campaign but there were times when it seemed Newcastle might conceivably secure a first away league success in almost four years. In the event the Red Bulls fell just short despite Christian Wade running in a hat-trick to become only the second player to score 100 top-tier tries.
Exeter will be suitably relieved to have edged a curate’s egg of a contest, ultimately made safe by a late try from their Georgian prop Bachuki Tchumbadze. The Chiefs’ Italian international back-rower Ross Vintcent also contributed two first-quarter tries to steal some of the prolific Wade’s thunder. The 35-year-old retains a poacher’s instinct and is now closing in fast – in every sense – on Chris Ashton’s all-time Prem career haul of 101.
