Chiefs 21 Saints 10

Exeter Chiefs 21

Northampton Saints 10

Mark Stevens at Sandy Park

Exeter Chiefs underlined their Aviva Premiership play-off credentials with aplomb as they saw off visiting Northampton Saints at a packed Sandy Park.

A dominant set-piece, allied with razor-sharp attacking play and some defiant defensive work, ensured Rob Baxter’s side became the first side this season to complete the double over Jim Mallinder’s visitors.

Having won at Franklin’s Gardens back in November, the Chiefs produced arguably an even greater display in this latest outing to propel themselves back into the top four.

Full-back Phil Dollman collected a first half try alongside a penalty from Henry Slade and the latter was on hand to add the extras to a penalty try and two more penalties to ensure the victory.

In reply, backs James Wilson and Jamie Elliott claimed a try apiece in each half, but it was simply not enough to deny the rampant Chiefs.

With the hunt for a play-off place intensifying by the week, it was a powerful line-up again assembled by Baxter for the visit of the reigning champions.

Backs Dollman and Jack Nowell returned to the fray having missed Exeter’s European quarter-final win over Newcastle Falcons, while up front the pack - led by skipper Mumm on his 50th Premiership appearance for the club - was unchanged.

The Saints, meanwhile, arrived in the Westcountry licking their wounds following a 37-5 thumping by Clermont Auvergne in the Champions Cup.

An injury to England star Courtney Lawes meant Christian Day was recalled to the fold, whilst behind Kahn Fotuali’i was given the nod over Lee Dickson at scrum-half.

Early on and it was the Saints who held the upper hand in the initial skirmishes, using their powerhouse pack to try and position deep inside the Exeter 22. However, a stubborn Chiefs defence were having none of it, defending defiantly to thwart the visitors and their streams of attack.

Baxter’s men duly turned defence into attack and with their first real foray into Northampton’s half, the home side broke the deadlock when Slade landed a lengthy penalty after Tomas Francis had dominated England and British Lions prop Alex Corbisiero on a Saints scrum.

Minutes later and the raucous Tribe were given more reason for cheer as the Chiefs claimed the game’s opening try. Strong running from the home pack - in particular Francis, Mitch Lees and Dave Ewers - saw them propel themselves to within touching distance of the Saints 22, where upon the ball was worked wide to Dollman.

Still with plenty to do - and a handful of colleagues outside him, two audacious dummies from the full-back saw him slice through the Saints defence and over in the right-hand corner for a try that Slade narrowly failed to convert.

It was just the start the Chiefs had craved, but they were somewhat hindered midway through the half when Aussie international Mumm was shown yellow for hauling down a Northampton meal just metres from his own line.

The Saints sensed they could make the most of the numerical advantage, but try as they may they continued to be met with a powerful ‘black wall’ of defence that refused to buckle.

Indeed, such was the ferocisity of the home defence, they again forced the visitors into a turnover on the Exeter 22 and it allowed Dollman to gobble up the loose ball and they race clear of the cover. In a sprint race to the line with James Wilson, the Welshman had the legs, but referee Wayne Barnes still wanted to check.

TV replays followed and it showed that Dollman had in fact knocked on in picking up the ball and the effort was chalked off.

Northampton duly replied at the other end, working their way through a string of phases deep behind enemy lines to set up Wilson for a decent finish in the right corner that went unconverted.

However, back roared the Chiefs immediately as Nowell’s scythed through the heart of the visiting midfield before offloading to Jess on the burst. The ‘Heamoor Flyer’ tore down the flank only to be felled by Luther Burrell, but the ensuing play saw the home side push for the line in numbers.

Northampton were scrambling in defence and their attempts to thwart Exeter were eventually deemed illegal as flanker Calum Clark became the latest to see yellow from Barnes. Now with the man advantage, it was the Chiefs who were looking to turn the screw with a succession of scrums, three came and went, before Waldrom attempted to pick from the base. Sadly, Exeter’s leading try-scorer could not hang onto the ball and a big opportunity again went begging.

HALF TIME EXETER CHIEFS 8 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 5

Having missed out on the chance at the end of the first half, the Chiefs flew out of the traps on the resumption as Ewers, Waldrom and Chudley led the initial charge. Initially Northampton did well to repel the threat, but when it was worked wide to Nowell, his intended pass to Hill was deliberately knocked down by Myler, who was dispatched to the sidelines to join team-mate Clark.

Slade landed the resultant penalty and then added the extras to Exeter’s second try just moments later, referee Barnes this time adjudging an Exeter five-metre scrum was this time going over before it was crudely sunk by the visitors.

Now with the bit between their teeth, the Chiefs were now looking to attack the Northampton jugular. Chudley’s clever box kick forced Ken Pisi into carrying the ball back over his own line and from the resultant five-metre scrum, again the Saints struggled to contain the juggernaut that was Exeter’s impressive eight.

Another penalty was awarded and again the hosts went for the five-metre shove. The pressure was mounting by the second and when the Saints infringed once more, replacement prop Alex Waller became the latest addition to Barnes’ ever-growing card recipients.

Undeterred the Chiefs continued to look for more rewards and they thought they had claimed extra bounty when Mumm appeared to have gone over under the sticks. Again, Barnes was unsure and following consultation with TV official Geoff Warren, again the decision went against the Devonians as no try was awarded.

It was relentless stuff from the Chiefs, who having tried to force a way through with scrums and a succession of close-range, pick-and-go moves, eventually opted for a third successful penalty to increase their lead to 21-5.

With such dominance at scrum time, it was allowing the Exeter backs to showcase their impressive skill set as Dollman underlined with another scintillating burst from deep. Although he was thwarted, the Chiefs continued to push forward in numbers and they almost added to their tally when Slade saw another long-range penalty chance just fall short on the strong wind.

Even when the Saints did muster a rare venture into the Chiefs 22, the home side continued to be the dominant force with outstanding line speed and some bone-crunching hits.

Chances came and went for both sides as the game entered into the dying embers, but with one last throw of the dice, the Saints were able to gain some late cheer when Elliott claimed a last-gasp score.

The winger was on hand to dot down in the left corner after the champions had cleverly worked the ball across the field from a five-metre line-out. Myler, though, was unable to convert the testing touchline conversion.

By then the game was already done and dusted and the home side were already focusing one eye on next weekend when they travel to Gloucester for a first-ever European semi-final encounter.
Chiefs: P Dollman; I Whitten, J Nowell, S Hill (T James 76), M Jess; H Slade (G Steenson 78), W Chudley (D Lewis 76); B Moon (C Rimmer 58), J Yeandle (E Taione 67), T Francis (A Brown 56); D Mumm (capt), M Lees (S Skinner 76); D Ewers, B White (K Horstmann 25-30, 58), T Waldrom.

Tries - Dollman, Penalty Try; Conversion - Slade; Penalties - Slade (3)

Yellow Card: Mumm

Saints: J Wilson (A Tuala 62); K Pisi, G Pisi (T Stephenson 66), L Burrell, J Elliott; S Myler, K Fotuali'i (L Dickson 55); A Corbisiero (A Waller 46), D Hartley (capt, M Haywood 62), G Denman (T Mercey 46); S Manoa (P Dowson 72), C Day; T Wood (A Corbisiero 51-62), C Clark, S Dickinson (J Fisher 55).

Tries – Wilson, Elliott

Yellow Cards: Clark, Myler, Waller

Referee: W Barnes

Attendance: 12,139

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Gloucester (A), European Challenge, Cup, Saturday, April 18 (7:45pm)