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| - Exeter boss Rob Baxter said he never feels comfortable despite seeing his team move 11 points clear at the top of the English Premiership after a 25-22 win at Bristol. The Chiefs pipped their title rivals at a windswept Ashton Gate on Tuesday thanks to substitute prop Billy Keast's late try. A pulsating encounter enjoyed a grandstand finish, leaving Exeter in overwhelming control of the play-off race. But Chiefs rugby director Baxter was cautious. "I never feel comfortable -- it's too early to feel comfortable," he said. "Tonight showed that the players have got a really good understanding about how to win a game of rugby. "We turned up and were physical, we turned up and worked hard. That allowed us to hang in the game, and we converted our opportunity at the end." Bristol stay second and firmly on course for the play-offs, but an Exeter side showing 14 changes underlined their squad depth. Tries by centre Phil Dollman and scrum-half Sam Hidalgo-Clyne helped take them 15 points clear before Bristol took charge with touchdowns from Piers O'Conor, Luke Morahan and Ioan Lloyd. Callum Sheedy kicked two conversions and a penalty. Sheedy's opposite number Gareth Steenson, who finished with 10 points, kicked Exeter back in front, then Keast cancelled out Lloyd's try and Exeter were home. It ended Bristol's run of seven successive Premiership victories and was their first league defeat since early January. Also on Tuesday, Sale claimed their first win since exiting lockdown, beating Wasps 20-11 at the Ricoh Arena. The result lifted them above their opponents into third place. jw/lp
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