The Gallagher Premiership Rugby top-four log jam is even more congested after Tom Roebuck’s hat-trick led Sale to a thumping victory over Exeter.
There are now seven teams on eight wins behind leaders Northampton prior to the hiatus for European competition next week, with Exeter sixth and Sale eighth.
The reverse fixture finished in a 43-0 demolition of the Sharks, but this time it was the Chiefs withstanding a drubbing at the Salford Community Stadium.
For his first and third tries, Roebuck was on the spot to dive over from close range with the second, a minute into the second half, seeing him catch a high kick then spin a challenge and race 40 metres to the line. But maybe the most memorable was him stopping a certain try after he had chased 60m and kicked over the try-line.