Another party weekend, another close defeat. This time, it was back at Edgeley Park, with farewells to say to several Sharks players, notably Charlie Hodgson and Chris Jones.

The sun shone, the pitch was fine, but it was tghe Chiefs who played more as a team against a error-ridden home team. Time and time again, they couldn't hold on to the ball at a vital moment, with the exceptions of Hodgson and 18-year old winger Will Addison, who scored the 'saving' try after setting up the first for the departing Chris Bell.

The tension emerged at a very early stage, with a second minute session of 'push and shove' as Exeter dominated the opening minutes, taking an eighth minute lead through a Mieres penalty after Koyamaibole hadn't rolled away. Thomas and Tuilagi were prominent when Sharks replied, but handling errors the home performance. Exeter stretched their lead on 22 minutes with a simple try. Forward strength released Dollman, who found Sestaret out on the right wing. Mieres converted and Sharks were ten down.

Sharks were struggling at scrum time, with the front row being frequently penalised by referee Fitzgibbon. When awards went their way, Peel was his usual lively self in trying to spur his colleagues into action. Hodgson opened the Sharks account after 31 minutes with a penalty, then two minutes later the Edgeley home crowd rose to its collective feet as Addison took on three men before supplying Bell with the killer pass. The outside centre strode home, Hodgson converetd and the scores were suddenly level.

Three minutes after the break, the Sharks' front row continued to incur the referee's wrath and Mieres sent over a penalty. Another departee, Eifion Roberts, entered the fray but the knock ons showed no sign of abating.With 49 minutes on the clock, a pass to Bell was short, Jess intercepting and streaking home over 65 metres. Mieres added the conversion for a 20-10 lead. The game entered a really nondescript phase, with no further points on the board for 18 minutes. Even the referee lost his bearings when trying to penalise a clerarance straight into touch which had come from within the Exeter 22.

Cliff and Koyamaibole had moments of inspiration, as Sharks tried to raid the sound Chiefs defence. On 67 minutes came a Sharks try and, for the second week running, it was Wame Lewaravu who finished it off! Hodgson converted and the gap was just three points. Man of the moment Hodgson nearly broke through with nine minutes left, and he had plenty of colleagues in support but the white defensive line held. The Sharks front row was - yet again - penalised after 74 minutes, new kicker Gareth Steenson adding three points. The, four minutes later, came the move which extinguished Sharks' hopes of victory. A loose ball was collected by Poluleuligaga to set up second rower skipper Tom Hayes for a long run in. He couldn't be caught. Steenson converted, and Sharks were 17-30 down with two minutes left.

There was one last hurrah, and it came from Sharks' youngest player - Will Addison, who broke free to touch down with seconds left. Hodgson didn't bother with a tee as he converted to put Sharks six points behind. The game ended - not surprisingly - with a knock on.

Scoring (Sharks first) 0-3, 0-10, 3-10, 10-10 (Half Time) 10-13, 10-20, 17-20, 17-23, 17-30, 24-30.

Man of the Match: Will Addison