A Henry Slade-inspired Exeter Chiefs ran riot over Newcastle Falcons to return to winning ways in the Aviva Premiership.
Slade, who was recalled to fly-half after international duty, scored 19 points as a ruthless Chiefs outfit dominated their visitors.
The hosts, who also had Sam Hill in superb form, had a try bonus point in the bag before half-time as they registered their first win in five in the league, making it a perfect return to Premiership action.
Much of the pre-match talk around Sandy Park revolved around returning to form in the league, and Exeter made the best possible start when Slade booted a penalty in front of the posts just two minutes in after the visitors offended at the breakdown.
Newcastle threatened a response with a spell of possession, but the Chiefs' tackling was sharp and the move broke down on the 10m line.
And Exe pushed on from there, with Nowell ruthlessly exploiting a stretched Newcastle defence following a fine Ian Whitten run, to slice through after quick ball to score. Slade added the extras to give the hosts a 10-0 lead with as many minutes on the clock.
This time the Falcons did respond with Tom Catterick kicking a simple penalty, only for Slade to return the favour.
And the Chiefs No. 10 added his name to the try-scorers' list, albeit in fortuitous fashion, as he reacted quickest to Luke Cowan-Dickie's overthrow from a lineout to dot down.
Sinoti Sinoti's charge forced Slade to hurry his conversion which drifted wide – the only blemish on an otherwise flawless afternoon - but he had an easier task adding the extras to the penalty try awarded five minutes from half-time as a dominant Chiefs scrum forced their Newcastle counter-parts back.
Thomas Waldrom's try-scoring exploits have been a highlight at Sandy Park this season, and he hit double-figures in the league as he barged his way over late in the half, with Slade again doing the honours.
With the try bonus point already in the bag and Newcastle well adrift, the second half threatened to be something of a damp squib.
And it looked to be heading that way until Newcastle stunned Sandy Park with Ruki Tipuna charging down replacement Haydn Thomas' kick for a simple score, with Catterick converting.
That served as a wake-up call for Rob Baxter's men, as they dragged their visitors left then right before Phil Dollman weaved through a couple of tackles to score.
Slade's conversion was his last contribution of the half as he made way for Gareth Steenson, and he picked up where Slade left off as he converted Thomas' opportunistic score.
In fairness to Dean Richards' men, they never stopped attacking when the opportunity arose and they reaped their reward when Will Welch dotted down late on.
But the Chiefs were anything but accommodating hosts on the day as they marked their return to the Premiership campaign with an emphatic win. Exeter Chiefs: Dollman; Whitten (McGuigan, 65), Nowell, Hill, Jess; Slade (Steenson, 61), Chudley (Thomas, 56); Moon (Rimmer, 63), Cowan-Dickie (Yeandle), Francis (Brown, 63), Mumm, Welch (Lees, 63), Ewers, White (Johnson, 64), WaldromScorers: tries – Nowell, Slade, penalty try, Waldrom, Dollman, Thomas; cons - Slade (4), Steenson; pens - Slade(2)Newcastle: Hammersley; Sinoti; Powell (Tiesi, 56), Socino, Tuilagi (Tait, H/T); Catterick, Blair (Tipuna, 50); Vickers, Lawson (Hawkins, 18), Orlandi (Wilson, H/T, Irving, 72), Green (Barrow, H/T), MacLeod, Wilson, Welch, Hogg (Mayhew, 50)Rep not used: BarrowScorers: tries – Tipuna, Welch; cons- Catterick (2); pen - CatterickAttendance: 7,218Referee: Thomas Foley
