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          Gallagher Prem 2018
          Exeter ChiefsExeter ChiefsEXE
          5
          11/02FT
          6
          Worcester WarriorsWorcester WarriorsWORCS
          • Mitch Lees(57')
          • Chris Pennell(21', 41')
          • SummarySummary
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          Worcester end run of 11 successive defeats by stunning Exeter

          Worcester Warriors celebrate their first win in their last 12 games against Exeter Chiefs. Matt Cardy/Getty Images
          • PA Sport
          Multiple Authors
          Feb 11, 2018, 06:13 AM
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          Worcester pulled off one of the shocks of the Aviva Premiership season by defeating defending champions Exeter 6-5 in an attritional battle at Sandy Park.

          After 11 successive league losses at the hands of Exeter since 2011, lowly Worcester deservedly secure a famous victory over the league leaders.

          Chris Pennell kicked two penalties for the 11th-placed Warriors with Mitch Lees scoring the only try of the game for Exeter.

          Will Spencer was a late withdrawal for Worcester with illness and he was replaced at lock by Darren Barry.

          The first 15 minutes were easily forgotten as the sides struggled to provide any continuity to their play, with both scrum-halves Nic White and Francois Hougaard regularly using the box kick to gain ground.

          Exeter would have been the more content as they were playing into a stiff breeze but they fell behind after 20 minutes when Pennell was on target with a 45-metre penalty.

          From the restart, Worcester should have extended their lead when, from halfway, Pennell capitalised on some loose passing to break away but neither he nor Jackson Wilkinson had sufficient pace to make the line and the chance was lost.

          Worcester dominated the second quarter testing the home defence with some decent rounds of passing but could only manage a second Pennell penalty to give them a deserved 6-0 half-time lead.

          Worcester captain Donncha O'Callaghan failed to reappear for the second half, having suffered a head injury before the interval, but they still had the next chance for points, only for Pennell to miss the target with his kick.

          The visitors lost a couple of line-outs which gave away valuable possession before an excellent burst from Thomas Waldrom finally gave the home crowd something to shout about.

          In a pre-planned move, Gareth Steenson sent Waldrom through a gap and the powerful number eight raced 45 metre before being hauled down, only for the Warriors to win the turnover and relieve the pressure.

          An error from Pennell gifted Exeter a platform in the visitors' 22 and the home side capitalised when Lees finished off a driving line-out. Steenson's conversion hit a post so the Chiefs still trailed 6-5 at the end of the third quarter.

          Exeter brought on flanker Matt Kvesic to play against his former club and also introduced young prop Marcus Street to make his Premiership debut.

          Olly Woodburn evaded two tackles to run 40 metres into the opposition 22 but Will Chudley's pass was blocked by the referee, much to the frustration of the Exeter faithful, and Worcester held on for a remarkable triumph.

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          Standings

          Gallagher Premiership
          RTeamGPPDP
          1NOR13+12057
          2BAT13+19156
          3LEI13+15551
          4EXE13+12247
          5BRI13+7843
          6SAR12+8433
          7SAL12-2922
          8GLO13-17416
          9HAR13-19115
          10NEW13-3567
          Full Table