LONDON Irish's faint Aviva Premiership survival hopes were all but extinguished as an impressive Exeter Chiefs side cruised to a 45-5 victory at Madejski Stadium, writes Richard Ashton.

Exiles had given themself some hope with a stunning 35-5 win at Harlequins the week before, but it was the visitors who showed their intent in making a dream start as they took the lead inside two minutes.

Running the ball from deep, they retained possession superbly as they inched towards the Irish line, prop Ben Moon eventually barrelling over from close range to give his side the lead. Gareth Steenson's conversion made it 7-0 to the visitors.

Things got worse for Irish as Max Northcote-Green then had to be replaced by Australian Jake Schatz, the flanker appearing to have injured his arm.

Exeter continued to look dangerous and nearly grabbed a second try when Don Armand crashed over, only to drop the ball under pressure from Ollie Hoskins.

The visitors then thought they had added to their tally when lock Jonny Hill powered over on the right, but his score was chalked off by referee JP Doyle for an alleged forward pass from Jack Nowell.

Exeter did get the second score their dominance deserved just after the opening quarter, and it was another pearler.

The away side fielded an Alex Lewington kick on the left, but some slick hands saw it fired down the back line, ending with No. 8 Sam Simmonds running in from 25 metres. Steenson landed a testing conversion from the touchline and Chiefs were 14-0 up.

They moved further ahead when their brave decision to kick to the corner rather than going for an easy shot at goal was rewarded with a third try. A perfectly constructed rolling maul ended with Simmonds earning five points for his side, and these were added to with a brilliant Steenson conversion from the left.

Exiles suffered another injury setback shortly after, Tommy Bell's left ankle giving way on the damp Madejski Stadium turf, and it could have got even worse when Exeter had a second try disallowed. On this occasion Nowell was the man denied, the referee deeming him to have made a double movement as he dotted down on the right.

Trailing 21-0 at the interval, Irish needed to make a fast start to the second half, but they were unable to do so, giving away a penalty which Steenson knocked over.

Exeter then wrapped up their bonus point courtesy of a hat-trick completing Simmonds score, the England man showing his pace and power to go over to the right of the posts from 10 metres out. Steenson kept up his perfect record from the tee to make it 31-0.

Irish continued to battle bravely against their superior opponents, and have themselves a glimmer of hope when brilliant young win Joe Cokanasiga bounced off a defender before touching down on the right. Marshall's attempted conversion drifted right of its target.

Exiles' dreams were crushed shortly after, though, Exeter battering away at the line before Mitch Lees added their fifth score of the day from close range. Steenson's conversion extended the advantage to 38-5.

The away side continued to dominate possession and territory throughout the second half, and added more misery with a little less than five minutes remaining when replacement hooker Jack Yeandle went over from close range on the right. The imperious Steenson banged over another touchline conversion as a tough day for Exiles was completed.

London Irish remain nine points adrift at the foot of the table ahead of their final two games, at home to Saracens on Sunday, April 29 and away at Bath on May, 5.

London Irish: Bell (Mulchrone, 33), Cokanasiga, Fowlie, Brophy Clews, Lewington (Tikoirotuma, 66), Marshall, van Zyl (Steele, 61), Franks (Reid, 50), Paice (Porecki, 50), Hoskins (Du Plessis, 50), van der Merwe (c), De Chaves (Basham, 74), McNally, Northcote-Green (Schatz, 3), Treviranus.

Exeter Chiefs: Turner, Nowell (Tom O’Flaherty, 66), Slade (Hill, 55), Whitten, Cordero, Steenson (c), White (Townsend, 55), Moon (Low, 55), Cowan-Dickie (Yeandle, 49), Francis (Williams, 49), Lees, Hill (Skinner, 61, 76), Ewers (Waldrom, 16), Armand (Waldrom, 41), Simmonds.

Attendance: 7,849.