Powergen Cup: Exeter Chiefs arrived at a soggy Dry Leas with a game plan - to use their forward power to dominate Saturday's fourth-round tie against Henley.

They executed it well enough to score six tries and secure a 37-6 victory, earning a trip to London Welsh in the next round.

Australian centre Alistair Murdoch cashed in with two tries.

But it was the National League 1 side's half-backs who opened the scoring. Fly half Ben Thompson dummied his way over after a five metre scrum, and his scrum half partner Richard John stole over after a ruck close to the line.

Thompson, returning to his native county, had a good all-round game, apart from his place-kicking.

The Oxfordshire cricketer was successful with only one out of three conversion attempts, although he did drop a goal early in the second half to make the score 27-6, before the Chiefs' last two tries.

The scoring for the National League 2 leaders came in the first half from two penalties by Spike Chandler, who showed considerable promise in his first full game at this level.

The match emphasised the difference between the top of National 1 and National 2 as far as forward play is concerned, especially as the Chiefs were without either of the Baxter brothers - the core of their pack - for the first time in seven years!