Exeter Chiefs kept alive their hopes of a first ever Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final as they ran in seven tries against I Cavalieri Prato.

Kevin Barrett, Mark Foster, Alastair Muldowney, Pat Phibbs and Ignacio Mieres all crossed in the rout at Stadio Lungobisenzio.

The victory paved the way for a winner-takes-all clash against Perpignan at Sandy Park next Saturday.

The visitors pack provided a platform for the victory and they won their side an early penalty try after a series of powerful scrums.

Scrum-half Barrett then touched down for the English side before the break.

After the interval Foster grabbed his try before another penalty try sealed the bonus-point.

Prato hit back through flanker Nicola Belardo but normal service was soon resumed with Muldowney and Phibbs adding their names to the score-sheet.

Mieres then rounded off the scoring with the last attack of the game.