Chiefs 28 Saints 19

Exeter Chiefs        28

Northampton Saints    19

Mark Stevens at Sandy Park

If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.

After weeks of threatening to unleash their attacking prowess, the Exeter Chiefs returned to winning ways with a three-try blast against visiting Northampton Saints in the LV= Cup.

Not since they overcame the Scarlets at Sandy Park back in mid-December have Rob Baxter’s side savoured a Saturday night success. However, that statistic was duly wiped out with a win that not only put the Chiefs back on top of Pool One, but kept alive their slender semi-final hopes for at least 24 hours.

To advance into the last four, the Chiefs must hope the Ospreys not only defeat unbeaten Harlequins, but at the same time deny the Londoners any kind of reward at all from their trek to Bridgend.

It’s a big ask, but the Chiefs duly did their part as first half tries from Ben White, Jack Nowell (pictured) and Watisoni Votu, plus a further 13 points from Ignacio Mieres, helped seal their third win of the competition.

The Saints duly played their part in an entertaining encounter, responding with tries of their own from Alex Waller and Lee Dickson (2), but their loss meant their own qualification hopes flittered away into the night.

Undone at Bath the week previous, the Chiefs were looking for an immediate response against the visiting Saints, who had triumphed in both earlier encounters between the two clubs in the Premiership.

With victory essential to both clubs in their hopes of trying to book a semi-final spot, it was little surprise that it was two powerful line-ups that took to the field.

Minus their crop of England Under-20s starlets, the Chiefs welcomed back into their side Jack Yeandle, Alex Brown, James Hanks, Aly Muldowney, Mieres, Ian Whitten and Mark Foster; whilst there were also home debuts for skipper Kai Horstmann and Fijian flyer Votu.

The Saints, meanwhile, were led by England international Ben Foden at full-back and had plenty of experienced names around the park in the form of Christian Day, GJ Van-Velze, Ryan Lamb and Dominic Waldouck.

It was, however, the Chiefs who set the early tone and they broke the deadlock inside five minutes. Working the ball wide to the right flank, Votu wasted little time in showcasing his dazzling repertoire of dancing feet and blistering speed as he tore through the heart of the visiting defence to set the attacking platform.

With quick ball to work with, scrum-half Will Chudley brought his forwards into the equation as they drove to within sight of the line. With the initial raids thwarted, flanker White took control of matters as he picked up from the base of a ruck and barged his way under the sticks.

The returning Mieres – making his first start since the loss at Leicester Tigers in September – landed the conversion, but was unable to add the extras to Exeter’s second score which followed on 16 minutes courtesy of full-back Nowell. The young Cornishman was able to race over for his fourth senior try when he finished off excellent approach work from midfield men Whitten and Tatupu.

It was vintage stuff from the Chiefs, who had clearly learned much in the seven days which had elapsed since they played Bath. Whereas the previous week Exeter were guilty of failing to convert their chances, this time round there was no such problem from the rampant Devonians.

Two tries soon became three as the lively Votu got in on the scoring act when he was able to crash over following more good attacking work from Nowell and then lock Damian Welch.

Mieres slotted the testing conversion, before adding a penalty, as Rob Baxter’s side stormed into a 22-0 lead just past the half-hour mark.
Somewhat shell-shocked, the Saints needed a response of sorts and with half-time approaching they reduced the deficit as prop Alex Waller rumbled over from a close range line-out for an unconverted try.

HALF TIME    EXETER CHIEFS 22    NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 6

Saints coach Jim Mallinder was clearly less than impressed by his side’s first half display and within five minutes of the restart, he wielded out an arsenal of new attackers from the bench in the form of Messrs Tonga’uiha, Manoa, Dowson, Dickson and Myler.

The fresh muscle certainly gave the visitors a renewed impetus as they looked to claw their way back into the contest – and using their enhanced pack to manoeuvre themselves to within strike range, they made the most of Ben White’s sin-binning for a professional foul to claim their second try.

With the Aussie flanker (pictured) sat on the sidelines, the Saints used the man advantage up front to rumble within inches of the home line – from which replacement Dickson was able to sneak over for a second try, which Myler converted.

Any thoughts of a Northampton fightback, however, were quickly extinguished as two more penalties from the right boot of Mieres enabled the home side to establish more breathing space as they game entered into its final quarter.

As both sides pressed in attack looking for the all-important bonus point, it was the Saints who were finishing the stronger. With a mounting penalty chart going against them, young replacement Will Carrick-Smith became the second Chief to be dispatched to the cooler by referee J-P Doyle for persistent infringing.

Again, the visitors made their numbers game pay off as a powerful shove at a five-metre scrum allowed the experienced Dickson to dive on the ball for his second converted score of the game.

Crucially time was against Northampton and with just seconds of the game remaining, it was the Chiefs who cleverly turned defence into attack to release Yeandle down the blind-side. Although the all-action hooker showed good pace, there was sadly not enough gas left in the tank and his ball back inside to Mieres allowed the Saints to recover and swallow up the Argentine ace just yards from the whitewash.

A fourth try would have duly put the gloss on a sterling display from the Chiefs, who must now ready themselves for a crunch Premiership encounter with Sale Sharks on Friday night.

Chiefs: J Nowell; W Votu, I Whitten, J Tatupu (N Sestaret 69), M Foster; I Mieres, W Chudley (60); C Rimmer, J Yeandle, A Brown; D Welch, J Hanks (W Carrick-Smith 63); A Muldowney, B White, K Horstmann (capt). Replacements (not used): T Cowan-Dickie, C Budgen, L Fairbrother, S Simmonds, M Dorrian.

Tries – White, Nowell, Votu; Conversions – Mieres (2); Penalties – Mieres (3)

Yellow Cards: White, Carrick-Smith

Saints: B Foden (capt); J Wilson, D Waldouck, L Burrell (T May 65), J Elliott; R Lamb (S Myler 50), M Roberts (L Dickson 50); A Waller (S Tonga’uiha 50), M Haywood (R McMillan 66), T Mercey (E Waller 65); M Sorenson (S Manoa 50), C Day; J Craig (P Dowson 50), B Nutley, GJ Van Velze.

Tries – Waller, Dickson (2); Conversions – Myler (2)

Referee: J-P Doyle

Touch Judges: L Pearce & P Huckle

4th Official: D Maddern

Attendance: 8,181

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Sale Sharks (A), Aviva Premiership, Friday, February 8 (7.45pm)