Tries from Nic White, Olly Woodburn and Don Armand helped Exeter set up a Twickenham date with Saracens with a 36-5 defeat of Newcastle.

Champions Exeter took control of their last four clash with the Falcons from the first minute and their progress to next Saturday's Aviva Premiership final rarely looked in doubt.

Joe Simmonds continued his impressive development with 19 points from the kicking tee, while Gareth Steenson converted Armand's late try.

The Falcons' lone score came from Alex Tait and the replacement fullback should have added a second only to drop the ball as he attempted to ground it.

The Chiefs are now 80 minutes from successfully defending the Premiership title they won against Wasps last May.

If Exeter fans experienced any fears that the Falcons could cause an upset at Sandy Park they were dispelled during a first half in which the Chiefs enjoyed 92 percent possession.

Playing into a considerable wind, it was not always pretty but the hosts were relentless, and effective, as they held on to possession and made their visitors work tirelessly in defence.

Simmonds kept the scoreboard ticking in the opening half-hour, the third of which came after a long stoppage in which Newcastle prop Scott Wilson was treated for an apparent head injury.

Wilson would leave the contest on a stretcher, and to a standing ovation, having been attended to by medical staff for several minutes on the Sandy Park pitch.

Newcastle's hopes of reaching the final were looking forlorn and a disjointed first-half performance was summed up by uncharacteristic mistakes from Flood and Niki Goneva.

The task facing them would get tougher on the stroke of half-time, too, as the Exeter pressure was finally converted into a try.

Scrum-half White was the man who touched down, sniping over from close range following an excellent break from Lachie Turner.

A pair of Simmonds penalties stretched Exeter's lead before Newcastle thought they had found a route back into the game.

Replacement fullback Tait profited from a good team move and excellent pass from Flood as he touched down with his first touch of the contest.

Yet the commitment that is expected from the Chiefs was highlighted as Turner sprinted off his line to charge down what appeared to be a simple conversion for Flood.

It was one of those days for the visitors and their afternoon would get worse soon afterwards as Woodburn finished off superbly to score Exeter's second try, following great work from White.

That score all-but confirmed Exeter's progress to Twickenham but there was still time for some late drama in Devon.

Newcastle thought they had secured some more consolation as Tait collected Flood's crossfield kick before cantering over from 10 yards out. However, as the replays subsequently showed, he had dropped the ball before it could be grounded.

And the Chiefs were able to put further gloss on their victory when crowd favourite Thomas Waldrom found Armand on his shoulder to score his side's third try.