Chiefs 9 Saracens 16

Exeter Chiefs 9

Saracens 16

Mark Stevens at Sandy Park

Exeter Chiefs may have huffed and puffed, but ultimately they could not blow over Aviva Premiership leaders Saracens in a hard fought encounter at Sandy Park.

In a compelling fixture - one in which neither side were willing to give an inch throughout - Saracens withstood a late attacking onslaught from their Devon hosts to record a notable scalp on the road.

Prior to this engagement, just Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers had prospered in 2013 from league visits to the Westcountry, so it was only right Saracens were pleased as punch to add their name to a somewhat elite list.

Ben Ransom's first half try, together with kicks from Alex Goode and Marcelo Bosch, ensured Mark McCall's men were able to pick up their seventh victory of the campaign; whilst Rob Baxter's Chiefs countered with three penalties of their own through Gareth Steenson (2) and Phil Dollman.

That, however, did not tell the whole story as the Chiefs were twice denied potential tries through Ian Whitten and Tom Johnson by TV match official David Sainsbury, whose view on both occasions was that there was "inconclusive evidence" to rewards the home side's efforts.

After the fortnightly change of scene in the LV= Cup, it was back to the bread and butter of Premiership action for the Chiefs, who again were able to field a powerful array of talent from the outset. Cornishman Jack Nowell was included on the right wing for his first top flight start of the season, whilst Ian Whitten was given the nod in the home midfield alongside Sam Hill.

Saracens, as you'd expect, were also fully loaded in terms of their attacking arsenal, which was boosted by the return of both Chris Ashton and Billy Vunipola following their exertions for England during the autumn internationals. Alongside them, skipper Steve Borthwick was the experienced head in the engine room, whilst Hodgson - the league's all-time top points-scorer - offered the tactical acumen at No.10.

Not that Hodgson had much chance to show his undoubted credentials as the former England international's afternoon lasted just over a minute before he was forced to leave the field following a heavy collision with Exeter hooker Jack Yeandle.

With Hodgson off the field, it was Exeter who looked to set the early tone in attack. Initially the signs were encouraging as the back division looked to move the ball at pace from one side of the field to the other - indeed it was Nowell's first real raid that brought about an early penalty chance for the home side. Sadly, Steenson was unable to land the lengthy kick, drifting his punt wide of the right post.

Saracens made the most of the early let off and took the lead when Ransom, on as the replacement for the stricken Hodgson, applied the finish following a surging run from Ashton that cut through the heart of the home defence. Goode duly added the extras to give the Londoners a seven-point advantage.

It was somewhat harsh on the Chiefs, but they rallied well and came within a whisker of claiming a swift response through Whitten. After a slick handling move from the hosts, the ball was worked from left to right to Nowell, who in turn fed Whitten who despite taking the ball at pace was adjudged - via the TV match official - to have been felled just short of the line.

As defences ruled the roost, both sides looked for alternative ways to make an impact. The visitors looked for the aerial approach, courtesy of numerous 'up and under' bombs; whilst the Chiefs preferred more a direct approach from some hard hitting runs through the middle.

Neither tactic really brought reward for either side, but when Steenson was sent to the sin bin on 28 minutes for a deliberate knockdown, it allowed Goode to extend the visitors lead to ten points with a routine penalty.

Although down a man, the Chiefs again responded brightly as they threatened the visiting line once more with some fast-paced, multi-phase rugby. Saracens were doing well to swamp the home raids, but when a scrum was dropped by prop Richard Barrington, it allowed Dollman to land Exeter's first points of the day with a penalty from 22 metres out.

But no sooner had Baxter's side brought themselves back to within range, they conceded a needless penalty in front of their own posts for pulling back, and up stepped Goode to slot the resultant kick.

HALF TIME EXETER CHIEFS 3 SARACENS 13

With ten points to make up, the Devon club knew they needed a strong start to the second period - and they got it as Steenson landed an early penalty after the visitors were pulled up for not releasing following strong breaks from Dean Mumm, Nowell and Dave Ewers.

It was just the start the Chiefs would have envisaged following their half-time pep talk, but no sooner had they registered their first points of the half, they once again let Saracens counter through Argentine centre Bosch, whose penalty from just inside his own half just snuck over courtesy of the crossbar.

Just as it was in the opening 40, the battle was restricted to a bruising battle up front and a stalemate behind as neither side were willing to give an inch

Steenson and Bosch both saw penalty chances fail to hit the target, before the Chiefs threatened again with a blockbusting run from England international Tom Johnson. Again he was repelled, as was replacement Luke Arscott, who showed some dazzling footwork only to be felled at the last by a great cover tackle from Ransom.

The home pressure was mounting by the minute and their efforts were finally rewarded with ten minutes remaining as Steenson landed a third penalty.

Saracens did their best to take the steam out of Exeter's charge by bringing on a wrath of late replacements, but the Chiefs were still not finished as they pushed hard for late points. Steenson's clever break out of defence and then punt in behind created a sprint race between Ashton and Matt Jess, the latter just losing out in the mad dash for the line.

Although denied on this occasion, the Chiefs had the bit between their teeth and when Nowell created havoc with a superb kick return, the home side worked the ball through countless phases to Johnson, who appeared to crash over for a crucial score. Again referee Tim Wigglesworth went upstairs for the spot check - and again the TMO ruled against Baxter's braves - much to the anger of the home faithful and the Chiefs coaching staff.

It was ultimately Exeter's last hope as Saracens did enough in the dying embers to record a valuable win on the road.

Next stop for the Chiefs is the short trek to the Roman City of Bath where, maybe, they can finally record that elusive first-ever top flight success.

 

Chiefs: P Dollman; J Nowell, I Whitten, S Hill (L Arscott 61), M Jess; G Steenson, D Lewis (H Thomas 51); B Sturgess (B Moon 60), J Yeandle (C Whitehead 60), H Tui (A Brown 70); D Mumm (capt), D Welch; T Johnson, B White (K Horstmann 70), D Ewers. Replacements (not used): D Armand, H Slade.

Penalties - Dollman, Steenson (2)

Saracens: A Goode; C Ashton, T Streather, M Bosch (B Spencer 62), D Strettle (M Tagicakibau 50); C Hodgson (B Ransom 2), R Wigglesworth; R Barrington (J Saunders 73), J George (S Brits 55), M Stevens (P Du Plessis 75); S Borthwick (capt), A Hargreaves (G Kruis h/t); J Wray, J Burger, B Vunipola (W Fraser 61).

Try - Ransom; Conversion - Goode; Penalties - Goode (2), Bosch

Referee: T Wigglesworth

Attendance: 9,384

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Bath (A), Aviva Premiership, Saturday, November 30 (3.15pm)