Bath break Exeter’s hearts with last-minute try to foil dramatic comeback

• Bath 33-26 Exeter

• Visitors fight back from 26-0 deficit to level match

The champions needed something to lift them after their Christmas hangover. This might not have been how they chose it but it is safe to say the desired effect was achieved, a try by Arthur Green in the last minute snatching victory from the jaws of, if not defeat, one of the more dispiriting draws inflicted on a home team.

It was Bath’s fifth try, but their first points since the 20th minute, after they had blown Exeter away with the reaction to their defeat here last Saturday by Northampton. But their four tries in that opening quarter were scored with the Chiefs down to 14 after Campbell Ridl was shown a 20-minute red card in the third minute for his aerial challenge on Henry Arundell.