The Lions achieved something Coventry did not do this season by beating Exeter in Devon.

It was all the more heartening for Rugby because it kept them out of the bottom two in the league and it ended Exeter's unbeaten home record.

Lions owed a big debt to their pack of forwards and the elusive running of the Western Samoan international To'o Vaega.

Rugby went ahead from the penalty goal by Martin Davies and then Dean Morgan squeezed over in the corner after a scything break by Vaega.

But Exeter were back in the match just before half time when their Jamie Alvis scored a try in stoppage time which Bryan Easson converted.

The home side were expected to dominate the second half but Lions had the perfect start when Eddie Saunders broke away for a try which Davies converted.

Still the expected rally by the Devonians did not materialise and a high tackle on Vaega enabled Davies to kick another penalty goal. Then in the later stages of the match Saunders sprinted along the wing again and this time sent in Morgan for his second try of the match.

Tries: Morgan 2, Saunders.

Conversions: Davies 1.