Richard Hill's side battled bravely against an Exeter team who have won every home game in the Aviva Premiership this season but they struggled to get out of first gear on a windy day in Devon.

Exeter raced out of the blocks and an early Gonzalo Camacho try, which was converted by Gareth Steenson, put the hosts 7-0 up inside five minutes.

Steenson added four more penalties to Andy Goode's one to put the Chiefs 19-3 up at the break.

Goode added a brace of penalties in the second-half as Warriors looked to force their way back into the game, but late tries from Haydn Thomas and Chris Budgen ensured the hosts came out on top.

Warriors made six changes to the team which started last Friday's victory over Sale Sharks with Ceri Jones, Ed Shervington, Dean Schofield and Chris Jones all coming in.

Andy Short was also named in the starting line-up as a late replacement for David Lemi, who pulled-up with a tight hamstring before the match.

Exeter Chiefs started well and were awarded an early penalty after the Warriors defence failed to roll away from the tackle but Steenson couldn't make the most of his routine kick and his effort hit the post.

Exeter did go ahead two minutes later when Luke Arscott produced a superb grubber kick that eluded the Warriors defence.

Wing Gonzalo Camacho won the subsequent foot race with Paul Hodgson in the in-goal area and touched down in front of the home crowd. Steenson added the extras underneath the posts to give the hosts an early 7-0 lead.

Exeter were awarded a second penalty after Warriors failed to release the ball in the tackle and this time Steenson made no mistake from a much tighter angle to increase his team's lead.

The home side were enjoying the lion's share of possession in the early stages of the match and their tactics of using grubber kicks to bypass the Warriors defence caused the visitors a string of problems.

Exeter won their third penalty after an infringement in the scrum. Steenson fired straight between the posts before adding another penalty soon afterwards to intensify Richard Hill's woes.

At 16-0 down, Warriors began to group together and Chris Pennell came to the visitor's rescue as he made it to a Camacho kick before any of the Chiefs backs could capitalise on the chance.

Steenson, however, did increase Exeter's lead with his fourth penalty after 26 minutes before Warriors won their first penalty of the afternoon.

Goode kicked the ball into touch inside the host's 22 and Josh Matavesi subsequently burst through Exeter's defence before being stopped 10 metres from the line.

Hodgson threw the ball out to Goode, who released Matt Grove, but the Scotland international couldn't make the most of possession and knocked the ball on.

Warriors were enjoying their first real spell of domination after half an hour but the Exeter pack was standing strong in their own 22.

Hill's men kept battling as half-time approached and, when Camacho broke through with a silky run, four Warriors players were on hand to prevent him adding a further score.

Warriors then won a penalty inside the Exeter 22 after an offside and Goode again opted to kick into touch.

The hosts gave away another two penalties in quick succession and, after the 40 minutes had elapsed, Goode was forced to kick the penalty to send Warriors into the break with their first points of the afternoon.

Warriors started the second-half in much brighter fashion and the ball switched from end to end in the opening exchanges.

If the first-half opening had been brutal for Warriors, the second-period began in a more gentle manner as the visitor's looked to get back into the match.

Warriors were awarded a penalty in the early stages of the second-period and Goode added another three points.

The returning Josh Drauniniu was replaced by Ravai Fatiaki soon afterwards as Hill looked to add impact to his backline.

Matt Mullan also joined the action after spending a week training with the England squad, taking the place of Ceri Jones.

But it was Exeter who looked most likely to add another score as Sireli Naqelevuki burst through before being halted by Chris Jones, with his offload going astray.

Captain Dean Schofield then made way for number eight Semisi Taulava with Jones moving to lock.

The visitors started to find their stride mid-way through the second-half with a series of neat moves but the solid Chiefs backline were preventing Warriors narrowing the scoreline.

Hill's side did manage to get more points on the board with just over ten minutes remaining, however, as Goode added another penalty from underneath the posts.

Lutui, Arr, Currie, Gillies and Carlisle all joined the action as Warriors chased the game.

But Exeter came once again though and Haydn Thomas forced his way over the line after a sublime dummy and Steenson added the extras.

The try seemed to end any chance of a Warriors comeback and Sam Betty was sin-binned for a late charge.

Replacement Chris Budgen went over for Exeter's third try and Mieres kicked the conversion as Exeter showed how strong they are at Sandy Park.

Exeter looked for their fourth try to secure a bonus point but Warriors fought hard and prevented a further score.

Timeline:

04m Camacho t Steenson c 7-0

09m Steenson p 10-0

17m Steenson p 13-0

21m Steenson p 16-0

26m Steenson p 19-0

40m Goode p 19-3

49m Goode p 19-6

69m Goode p 19-9

73m Thomas t Mieres c 26-9

78m Budgen t Mieres c 33-9

Warriors: 01 Ceri Jones (Mullan 52), 02 Ed Shervington (Lutui 62), 03 John Andress (Currie 74), 04 James Percival, 05 Dean Schofield (Taulava 55), 06 Sam Betty, 07 Matt Kvesic (Gillies 74), 08 Chris Jones, 09 Paul Hodgson (Arr 70), 10 Andy Goode, 11 Andy Short, 12 Josh Matavesi (Carlisle 74), 13 Alex Grove, 14 Josh Drauniniu (Fatiaki 49), 15 Chris Pennell

Replacements: 16 Aleki Lutui, 17 Matt Mullan, 18 James Currie, 19 Craig Gillies, 20 Semisi Taulava, 21 Jonny Arr, 22 Joe Carlisle, 23 Ravai Fatiaki