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| - Sam Simmonds scored his 13th English Premiership try this season as champions Exeter fought back to beat Bath 38-16 on Saturday. Simmonds, who has failed to properly break into the England set-up under Eddie Jones, could not fail to have impressed watching British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland. The Exeter number eight needs only four more touchdowns to equal the Premiership try-scoring record for one campaign, and there are still 10 rounds of regular league season action left. Exeter trailed by 13 points midway through the second quarter after wing Ruaridh McConnochie scored a try, which Rhys Priestland converted, and he also kicked two penalties. But the Chiefs, striving to avoid a third successive Premiership defeat, responded brilliantly, with lock Sam Skinner and wing Tom O'Flaherty each claiming two touchdowns, while Simmonds and Scotland second-row forward Jonny Gray also scored tries. Joe Simmonds kicked four conversions, with Priestland kicking another penalty for Bath, who were ultimately overpowered despite England flanker Sam Underhill making a strong first appearance since January after recovering from a hip injury. Bristol's Siva Naulago scored a hat-trick of tries to deny Worcester and extend the leaders' advantage at the top of the table to six points. With eight minutes remaining, Callum Sheedy succeeded with a touchline conversion to Naulago's third to give Bristol a 24-23 bonus-point victory and condemn Worcester to an 11th successive defeat. Andy Uren was Bristol's other try-scorer with Sheedy kicking two conversions. Perry Humphreys and Francois Venter scored Worcester's tries with Billy Searle kicking three penalties and a conversion. Jamie Shillcock added a conversion. Billy Twelvetrees' late penalty gave 14-man Gloucester a 20-19 victory at Wasps that lifted them off the bottom of the table. Gloucester had to withstand the loss of Ollie Thorley to a red card, but still led 17-0 at half-time at the Ricoh Arena. It looked as though they were going to suffer more heartbreak when Josh Bassett's try completed a stirring fightback from Wasps. But they emerged victorious thanks to Twelvetrees' 78th-minute strike. smg/lp
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