Half-time: Bristol 6 Exeter Chiefs 23: Bristol have a mountain to climb in the second half at the Memorial Stadium if they are to preserve their 100 per cent winning start to the season.

Exeter – viewed as Bristol's biggest promotion rivals – have surged into a 17-point half-time lead in the clash of the Championship's only unbeaten sides.

Tries from Matt Cornwell and Richie Baxter have put Exeter firmly in the driving seat, while Gareth Steenson has kicked 13 points for the Devonians.

They took a 13-0 lead thanks to two Steenson penalties and a converted Cornwell try – scored after Jarvis' attempted chip over the top had been stolen by Steenson.

Two Jarvis penalties narrowed the Chiefs' lead to seven points as Bristol enjoyed a decent spell of territory and possession.

But Exeter ended the half on top, with another Steenson penalty making it 16-6 before Baxter burrowed over for the visitors' second try, which was converted by Steenson.

Bristol: L Arscott; T Arscott, L Eves, J Fatialofa, D Norton; A Jarvis, J Spice (capt); M Irish, D Blaney, W Thompson, M Sambucetti, R Winters, I Grieve, J Merriman, D Montagu. Reps: O Hayes, D Crompton, J Phillips, R Pennycook, R Shaw, M Davies, L Robinson.

Scorers: Pens – Jarvis (2).

Exeter Chiefs: E Lewis; M Jess, P Dollman, M Cornwell, P McKenzie; G Steenson, C Stuart-Smith; B Sturgess, N Clark, H Tui, T Hayes (capt), J Hanks, C Slade, J Scaysbrook, R Baxter. Reps: S Alcott, R Murphy, S Tomes, T Johnson, H Thomas, D Gray, M Foster.

Scorers: Tries – Cornwell, Hanks. Cons – Steenson (2). Pens – Steenson (3).

Referee: L ap Geraint-Roberts.