EXETER Chiefs dominated their derby against the Cornish Pirates in Camborne yesterday to make it four wins on the bounce.

The visitors created far more scoring opportunities and bagged four tries to claim a bonus point.

But the match only really came to life in the second half as both sides crossed three times at a freezing cold Recreation Ground.

Exeter had all the play in the opening period but only managed to notch a try just before the half-time whistle. The Pirates were better in the second half, but the Chiefs also upped their game to record a pleasing win.

Gareth Steenson showed no ill effects after he was forced to miss the previous game against Nottingham with shingles as he starred against his former employers.

The fly-half broke through the first line of defence time after time and also kicked well to get points on the board and put his side in decent attacking positions.

Once again the pack played well and had the better of their opposite numbers to secure plenty of ball for their backs to work with.

It was the forwards who scored all four tries, with Rich Baxter bagging a brace — including running in an interception from 65 metres — and Neil Clark crowning his 100th league appearance with a score.

The Chiefs took the game to the Pirates from the kick-off and won a penalty at the first scrum, but Steenson missed the kick from 40 metres in the third minute. He opened his account at the second time of asking, landing a penalty in the 18th minute.

Although they were dominating the game — both in terms of territory and possession — Exeter could not make it count on the scoreboard. A series of handling errors denied them try-scoring chances in decent positions after making good breaks to get deep into Pirates territory.

Chad Slade couldn't take Baxter's pass with the line at his mercy and Matt Jess couldn't gather a loose ball five metres out.

After another knock-on messed up a Chiefs attack, home fly-half Jonny Bentley burst past Steenson from a scrum to set up the Pirates' first decent attack, but great defence from Exeter won them a turnover.

The visitors continued to offer the biggest threat with ball in hand and the backs combined well to set Mark Foster free. He made a lot of ground using his pace and strength before the Chiefs won a penalty for Steenson to double their lead.

The fly-half initiated another attack in injury-time at the end of the first half and Clark seemed destined to score in the left corner until Nick Jackson appeared from nowhere to tackle him into touch.

However, the Pirates inexplicably threw long at the line-out and Andy Miller gleefully gobbled up the ball and was helped over the line by his pack.

Steenson converted the try to give his side a 13-0 lead at the break, which was no more than their dominance of the opening period deserved.

Exeter should have increased their advantage further early in the second as they controlled the ball from the kick-off and won a penalty which Steenson put in the corner, but the Pirates turned them over at the line-out and cleared.

Instead it was the home side who scored first in the second period as they had their first real spell of pressure in the match. They won a penalty close to Exeter's line and opted for a scrum, from which Blair Cowan peeled off to cross on the blindside, but Jonny Bentley missed the conversion.

Rob Baxter's men hit back five minutes later as they had several phases in the home side's 22 before Rich Baxter drove a tackler over the line with him next to the posts for a try Steenson converted.

And it wasn't long before Clark did crown his big day with a try, his forwards driving him over the line from five metres out after winning a few penalties in quick succession.

Baxter had much further to go for his second try shortly afterwards as he caught the ball when it bounced off an opponent's chest as they attacked and sprinted 65 metres despite the best efforts of Jackson trying to chase him down. The No. 8 has scored more than 100 tries for his hometown club, but surely none will have been from as far out.

With Steenson kicking into a strong wind, he missed the conversions of Clark and Baxter's tries. However, as his side had the bonus point for scoring four tries, nobody really minded.

They weren't as happy three minutes later, however, when Bentley put lock and skipper Ben Gulliver across in the left corner and replacement hooker Dave Ward followed him across shortly after for the Pirates' third try.

It was nothing more than a consolation for the home side as they were soundly beaten by the Chiefs in pretty much every aspect.