Chiefs 27 Saracens 19

Exeter Chiefs 27

Saracens 19

Mark Stevens at Sandy Park

Gareth Steenson equalled the record for most penalties in an Aviva Premiership match as he kicked Exeter Chiefs to a significant victory over Saracens at Sandy Park.

The Irishman produced an unblemished nine from nine to further underline the top four credentials of Rob Baxter’s side, who in recent weeks have also toppled defending champions Northampton Saints and Wasps.

Saracens countered with a late converted try from Maro Itoje and four penalties from Charlie Hodgson, but it was scant reward in a game in which the Chiefs ruled the roost.

Exeter's forward domination was apparent from the outset as they squeezed the life out of their rivals, whilst behind playmaker Steenson directed his back division with ruthless efficiency and a masterful right boot.

With five victories in their last six games, it was a pretty familiar looking line-up that took to the field for the Chiefs. However, they did make three changes from that which defeated Wasps last time out. Up front Ben Moon and Moray Low were included in the front-row, the latter for his maiden Premiership start, whilst behind fit-again Sam Hill took over in the centre from Ian Whitten.

Saracens, undone on home soil by Northampton seven days earlier, made six changes in personnel for their trip to the Westcountry. Four came up front where there were starts for James Johnson, Mouritz Botha, Jacques Burger and Ernst Joubert; while behind Neil De Kock and Duncan Taylor were also included.

It was, however, the Chiefs who started the brighter and they opened the scoring inside the opening five minutes as great link-up work involving Dave Ewers and Low saw them position themselves deep inside the Sarries 22, where upon the visitors infringed at the ruck allowing Steenson to slot the resultant penalty with ease.

Minutes later and Baxter’s troops were back on the attack, this time hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie tearing through the heart of the Saracens line only to be felled by some desperate defence from the Londoners.

Parity was restored, though, on 14 minutes when Hodgson - the record points-scorer in Premiership history - landed his first points of the day when he guided a sublime kick between the posts from wide on the left after home full-back Phil Dollman had been pulled up for holding on in the tackle.

Undeterred the Chiefs quickly got back into their stride and they reclaimed the lead on 17 minutes when a high up and under from the hosts caused problems for Alex Goode, whose spilled catch was picked up in an offside position by Sarries skipper Alastair Hargreaves. It allowed the deadly Steenson to have another shot at the target and the Ulsterman - as so often has been the case this season - delivered a telling blow from 35 metres out.

Again, Exeter’s lead proved short-lived as Hodgson added his second penalty of the game when referee Greg Garner adjudged at least two Chiefs were in an offside position as Steenson looked to clear his lines under heavy pressure.

However, the Devonians - just as they had done at Northampton earlier in the month - were using their kick game to deadly effect, using a heap of lengthy clearance to not only win the territory battle, but also keep Mark McCall’s side firmly pegged back deep inside their own half.

It was a tactic that was bringing huge reward as Steenson added a third penalty after the visitors again strayed offside following another spilled ball; then two more successful kicks - both won from powerful Exeter scrums - allowed the Chiefs No.10 to take his tally into the game to a creditable 15 points with just half hour having elapsed.

Still the Chiefs came pouring forward in pursuit of more points as first the lively Waldrom steamed his way through the middle at full tilt; then following a close-range line-out move, Ewers came within a whisker of scoring the game’s opening try. Referee Garner was undecided - he went to the TMO, Geoff Warren - who after multiple viewings awarded the Exeter man had been held up on the line.

Although denied the try, the Chiefs used the resultant five-metre scrum to attack once more. A succession of scrums saw a flurry of penalties awarded against the visitors, the last of which saw prop Johnston banished to the sidelines for 10 minutes. Rather than go for a potential penalty try, the home side opted for the sticks and Steenson did not disappoint as he landed a sixth penalty of the half.

HALF TIME EXETER CHIEFS 18 SARACENS 6

After a torrid first half, it was no surprise that Saracens re-emerged for the second period knowing they had to make a quick inroad into the 12-point deficit. With two minutes played, they got an early lift as Moon was adjudged to have held on having been tackled and former England international Hodgson did the rest as he plundered a lengthy penalty.

The kicking masterclass from Steenson showed no sign of abating as he landed a seventh kick just moments later, but back came Hodgson with an equally impressive effort after Cowan-Dickie was singled out for not rolling away at the tackle area.

Saracens turned to their bench - bringing on international stars Mako Vunipola and Kelly Brown - but it was the Chiefs who continued to look the more threatening as Cowan-Dickie and then Hill both looked to punch decisive holes into their renowned defensive line.

The tactical battle which had been somewhat of a slow burner during the opening half was now coming to the boil as the rival teams looked to gain the ascendancy. Sarries had the chance to again cut into the home lead after the Chiefs killed the ball following a loose punt from Waldrom, but this time Hodgson’s long-range chance cannoned off the left post and to safety.

Steenson’s kicking shift, though, continued to deliver on all fronts as he landed an eighth penalty with 66 minutes on the clock after the impressive Cowan-Dickie and Slade had both made telling raids into the visiting 22.

With Sarries wilting by the minute, the Chiefs were looking to deliver the knockout blow. With nine minutes remaining, Slade’s clever footwork in midfield left a trail of destruction, but his intended pass to the onrushing Jack Nowell was adjudged to have been knocked on by the Cornishman under pressure from Chris Ashton.

Still Baxter’s men continued to pile forward in numbers, threatening first with a five-metre scrum and then a succession of pick-and-go drives just inches from the visiting lines. However, another five-metre scrum this time brought reward for the hosts as Steenson stroked over his ninth penalty of the contest to make it 27-12.

To their credit, Sarries - as they have proved down the years - never give up without a fight and their efforts were rewarded when Itoje was able to gallop under the home posts with the final play of the game. Goode added the extras without too much fuss to bring the curtain down on the latest Sandy Park show.

The Chiefs will now take a two week European break with back-to-back dates with French side La Rochelle, after which they will return to Premiership duty and a tricky, pre-Christmas test at Sale Sharks.

Chiefs: P Dollman; J Nowell, H Slade, S Hill (I Whitten 79), M Jess (B McGuigan 79); G Steenson, W Chudley (H Thomas 79); B Moon (C Rimmer 59), L Cowan-Dickie (G Bateman 72), M Low (T Francis 59); D Mumm (capt), D Welch (R Caldwell 66); D Ewers (K Horstmann 62), D Armand, T Waldrom.
Penalties - Steenson (9)

Saracens: A Goode; C Ashton, D Taylor, C Wyles (N Tompkins 72), D Strettle; C Hodgson (R Ransom 72), N De Kock (B Spencer 66); R Gill (M Vunipola 47), J George (B Sharman 68), J Johnston (J Figallo 50); M Botha (M Itoje 57), A Hargreaves (capt), W Fraser (J Figallo 43-50), J Burger (K Brown 53), E Joubert.

Try - Itoje; Conversion - Goode; Penalties - Hodgson (4)

Yellow Card: Johnston

Referee: G Garner

Attendance: 10,335

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v La Rochelle (A), European Challenge Cup, Thursday, December 4 (8.45pm)