A POOR first-half performance resulted in London Irish suffering a heavy defeat at the hands of Exeter Chiefs on Saturday.

Hosts Exeter went close early on, Will Chudley being held up on the line, and while Gareth Steeson and Shane Geraghty exchanged early penalties, parity did not last for long.

Carl Rimmer powered in for Exeter’s first try and Henry Slade soon followed him over the try-line. Two more kicks from Steeson increased the lead, before Damian Welch touched down to give the hosts a 30-3 lead at half-time.

Further tries from Welch and Don Armand made the game safe early in the second half, but with David Paice in the sin-bin, Irish mounted something of a comeback.

Blair Cowan and Andrew Fenby touched down for tries while the visitors were down to 14 men, with Cowan going over again in the final minute, but the Exiles lost the game 44-24.

London Irish director of rugby Brian Smith said: “Exeter are a very good team and they played the conditions brilliantly, but we weren’t at the office in the first half defensively.

“It was a disappointing dressing room after the game. The captain is unhappy and I’m unhappy.”

The result leaves Irish ninth in the Premiership table, having lost four of their opening six games, but they have a break from league action this weekend, hosting Italian side Rovigo in the European Rugby Challenge Cup on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).