Premiership leaders Gloucester carried over their league form to the Powergen Cup as they knocked out Exeter in the sixth round with some style.

Former Kingsholm favourite David Sims was in fine form but, despite admirably leading a resilient Exeter pack, he could not curtail Gloucester's free-flowing style.

In the end, the Cherry and Whites ran in a total of five tries and Jake Boer was the pick of the Gloucester players, scoring once and creating three others.

[Gloucester] have moved on, and the squad seems much happier than when I left Dave Simms Exeter captain

Gloucester's pack had been expected to dominate the exchanges but Exeter, eventually let down by their lacklustre back division, were up to the challenge.

The league leaders were quick off the blocks in the first half and held a seemingly unattainable 21-point advantage at the break.

Chris Catling showed a great return to form at full-back and put Gloucester into a 5-0 lead with a well-worked try, noticeable for its slick handling, after just five minutes.

Boer and Peter Buxton were the other try scorers in the first half, both men driving forward deep on Exeter's line.

Henry Paul was in good form with the boot, successfully converting all three chances.

We took one foot off the gas after leading 21-0 at half time Nigel Melville Gloucester coach

Gloucester, though, struggled to show the same dominance following the interval but were defensively strong enough to shut out Exeter's growing chances.

Exeter kicker Tony Yapp did his utmost to close the lead but his two penalties were merely a sideshow to two further tries by Gloucester.

Daren O'Leary and Catling were the two men over the line in the second half, Catling's effort coming two minutes before the final whistle. Paul was once more on song with his kicking.

Gloucester: Catling, O'Leary, Fanolua, Paul, Beim, Amor, Stuart-Smith, Roncero, Collins, Deacon, Fidler, Cornwell, Boer, Buxton, Forrester.
Replacements: Frape, Garvey, Delport, Caves, Molloy, Paramore, Pearce.

Exeter: Thompson, Lewsey, Murdoch, Ward, Trethewey, Yapp, John, Ozdemir, Brooking, Sluman, Sims, Brown, Willis, Hansen, R. Baxter.
Replacements: Blythe, Hobson, Harris, Cole, Etheredge, Sanders, Bunny.

Referee: Martin Fox (RFU)