Image source, GettyImage caption, Returning Gloucester captain Tomos Williams scored a try of his own and was a constant thorn in Exeter's side

Tries: Llewellyn 2, Williams, Trenholm 2 Cons: Barton 3 Pens: Barton

Tries: Vintcent, Feyi-Waboso, Fisilau, Penalty, Slade Cons: Slade 2

Gloucester delivered their best league performance in months, surviving a second-half comeback from play-off chasing Exeter Chiefs to triumph 34-31 at Kingsholm.

After conceding Ross Vintcent's early try, the home side had the better of a frantic first-half in which they gained a try bonus point with scores from Tomos Williams, Will Trenholm and two from Max Llewellyn.

Efforts either side of half-time from Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Greg Fisilau gave the Chiefs hope and having conceding a second to Trenholm, the visitors seized control of the game adding a penalty try and a score from Henry Slade to close the scoreboard to three points to set up a thrilling finale.

But with the clock in the red and the Chiefs attacking, flanker Ethan Roots was given a 20-minute red carded for striking a Gloucester tackler in the face and Williams kicked the ball into touch to secure a deserved win.

Despite gaining two bonus points and moving up to fourth, the loss is a blow to the Chiefs' play-off ambitions, with Baxter's men now just a point ahead of Bristol and still to play fellow contenders Bath and Leicester Tigers in the coming weeks.

Gloucester: Barton; Joseph, Llewellyn, S Atkinson, Loader; C Atkinson, Williams (c); Rapava Ruskin, Innard, Fasogbon; Clark, Alemanno, Thomas, Ludlow, Trenholm.

Replacements: Knowles, Bleuler, Laulala, Eite, Clement, Venter, Englefield, Thorley.

Exeter: Ridl; Brown-Bampoe, Slade (c), Ikitau, Feyi-Waboso; Skinner, Varney; Goodrick-Clarke, Dweba, Iosefa-Scott; Tuima, Pearson, E Roots, Vintcent, Fisilau.

Replacements: Norey, Burger, J Roots, Tshiunza, Hooper, Worley Brady, Cairns, Hammersley.