Saints 18 Chiefs 24

Northampton Saints 18 

Exeter Chiefs 24

By Mark Stevens at Franklin's Gardens

If Rob Baxter wanted a barometer of how his side are progressing, then winning at the reigning Aviva Premiership champions isn’t a bad starting point.

Thomas Waldrom’s first half try double, together with an earlier touchdown from Luke Cowan-Dickie, helped pave the way for a first-ever win for the Exeter Chiefs at Northampton’s Franklin’s Gardens.

Fly-half Gareth Steenson completed the job for the visitors as he converted all three tries, as well as adding a second half penalty in another accomplished display.

The win lift the Chiefs to second in the table, two points behind the Saints who themselves countered with tries from Tom Stephenson and Jamie Elliott, as well as eight points from the boot of Stephen Myler.

After four weeks of European and domestic cup action, it was a welcome return to top flight action for Baxter's side, who showed three changes in their starting personnel to that which had defeated rivals Bath in their last outing in the LV= Cup.

Up front, Carl Rimmer came into the front-row in place of Ben Moon; Cowan-Dickie was a late call-up for hooker Jack Yeandle who pulled out prior to kick-off with a back complaint; and Ben White was drafted into the back-row with Dave Ewers missing. The sole change behind saw Phil Dollman come in at full-back for Byron McGuigan, who dropped to the bench following his debut the week previous.

The Saints, meanwhile, were also able to parade a powerful line-up, even though they were without a number of their own stars due to the current Autumn internationals. Missing the likes of Messrs Hartley, Lawes, North and Pisi, they were boosted by the return of fly-half Myler and centre Luther Burrell following recent injuries.

It was, however, the Chiefs who thundered out of the traps, taking just three minutes to open their account for the night. Sam Hill caused the initial havoc with a midfield burst and although his link-up with Dollman failed to bring reward, the ensuing play almost saw England international Jack Nowell sneak over in the right-hand corner.

Referee Dean Richards, though, had seen the Saints stray offside earlier in the attack and from the resultant penalty line-out to the corner, the Exeter pack combined as one to drive Cowan-Dickie over for the opening try, which Steenson duly converted with aplomb from wide on the left touchline.

A poor restart from the Chiefs, however, allowed the Saints to quickly get on the front foot themselves and following a series of attacking raids, they were able to land their first blow as Myler landed a penalty on six minutes to cut the deficit.

Shortly after and Myler was able to double his tally as he stroked over a second, long-range penalty after the visitors were harshly penalised for infringing at a ruck just inside their own half.

With both sides looking to win the territorial battle with a succession of long punts down field, it was the Chiefs who made the crucial breakthrough on the half-hour when summer signing Waldrom claimed his fifth try of the campaign, picking off a pass from Myler on halfway and then producing a turn of speed that even Linford Christie would have been proud of.

The officials were initially unclear on the end grounding, but following review with the TMO the score was awarded and Steenson was again on hand to land the conversion.

Again the Saints looked to respond as a rampaging run from Samu Manoa, who linked with Lee Dickson, almost brought reward within inches of the Chiefs line.

Thankfully, the threat was repelled and it was the Chiefs who countered just before the break for a third converted try. Slade’s sublime midfield break almost released Matt Jess, but with Will Chudley and then Dollman in close attendance, the latter propelled himself to the line once again

Officials were again unsure - and following yet more debate with the TMO - this time the score was not given. However, the resultant Exeter scrum saw Waldrom pick from the base before bulldozing his way over the whitewash for his second of the night.

HALF TIME NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 6 EXETER CHIEFS 21

With their ears no doubt ringing from a half time blast from Jim Mallinder, the Saints started the second period on the offensive using forwards Manoa, Dowson and Clark as their battering rams in attack.

The Chiefs, though, were defiant in terms of their defensive duties as to a man they stood tall under a siege of pressure from the Midlanders.

The threat repelled, it was now the turn of Baxter’s men to push forward as first the impressive Don Armand sliced his way through the home midfield, before Jack Nowell and flanker Ben White carried on the charge as he collected an offload from the young Cornishman

A fourth try at that point would undoubtedly have dampen the home fires, but all the Chiefs could muster during a sustained spell of pressure was a solitary penalty from the trusty right boot of Steenson to make ity 24-6.

Roared on by a  capacity crowd, the Saints needed to summon a rapid response of sorts. A succession of penalties allowed Myler to place the home side deep inside the Chiefs 22, but the resultant driving line-out was manfully held at bay by a stubborn wall of Exeter defenders.

As the natives grew restless with the continuation of the ‘kick-tennis’, so the Saints looked for a way back into the contest. It duly arrive just before the hour mark when Stephenson was able to collect wide on the left before scampering down the touchline to claim Northampton’s opening try which Myler converted from wide out.

It was just what the champions had craved and now with the bit between their teeth they went in search of further reward as the minutes ticked by. The Chiefs appeared to be slowing down - so Baxter summonsed fresh muscle from the sidelines.

The pressure was relentless and in the end it came as no surprise when the Saints claimed a second try when winger Elliott was able to glide over, much to the delight of most inside the Gardens.  Crucially, Myler could not convert on this occasion.

Now with ten minutes remaining on the clock, the Saints sensed the opportunity was there for them to deliver a late knockout blow. The Chiefs, it has to be said, had other ideas and in a bullish stand of defiance in the closing stages, they dug deep into their reserves to keep their rivals at bay.

In the end, the Chiefs clinically closed out the contest without too much fuss, winning a penalty on halfway before then winning the line out and booting it into the crowded Tetley’s Stand.

It sparked scenes of delirium amongst the travelling Tribe on the far side, but for the Chiefs it was a notable scalp in a season which is already bringing huge delight to all at Sandy Park

Next up are back to back home dates with Wasps and Saracens, both of which will no doubt test the Devonians as much as this contest.

 

Saints: B Foden; J Elliott, T Stephenson, L Burrell, T Collins (J Wilson 3); S Myler; L Dickson; A Waller (E Waller 62), M Haywood, S Ma’afu (G Denman 55); S Manoa, C Day; C Clark, B Nutley (T Harrison 60), P Dowson (capt). Replacements (not used): R McMillan, A Woolford, J Hodgson, D Waldouck

Tries - Stephenson, Elliott; Conversion - Myler; Penalties - Myler (2)

Chiefs: P Dollman (I Whitten 60); J Nowell, H Slade, S Hill, M Jess; G Steenson (B McGuigan 77), W Chudley (H Thomas 9-18); C Rimmer (B Moon 55), L Cowan-Dickie (G Bateman 70), T Francis (M Low 57); D Mumm (capt), D Welch (R Caldwell 75); B White (K Horstmann 60), D Armand, T Waldrom.

Tries - Cowan-Dickie, Waldrom (2); Conversions - Steenson (3); Penalty - Steenson

Referee: D Richards

Attendance: 13,362

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Wasps (H), Aviva Premiership, Saturday, December 22 (3pm)