Chiefs 20 Saracens 22
Exeter Chiefs 20
Saracens 22
Mark Stevens at Sandy Park
When it comes to games between Exeter Chiefs and Saracens, there is always an element of edge in the air.
These two heavyweights of the English game have history - both on and off the field - and in this latest match-up in the Westcountry, another titanic tussle ensued once more.
It was, however, the table-topping Londoners who headed back to the capital with the points. Alex Goode’s nerveless penalty in added on time sealed a first win in Devon since 2016 - and ensured Mark McCall’s side maintained their unblemished record so far this season.
For the Chiefs, it was a bitter pill to swallow, particularly as they had battled back from nine points down in the second half to lead by a solitary point with just a matter of minutes remaining thanks to a penalty of their own from Henry Slade.
With little to choose between the two at the break, the scoreline was deadlocked at ten apiece, it was the visitors who forged ahead during the second period with a string of penalties from the boots of Daly and Owen Farrell.
The Chiefs, though, spurred on by their biggest home crowd of the season so far, rallied impressively and hauled themselves back into contention with a converted Jacques Vermeulen score, before Slade blew the roof off with a second penalty with just four minutes remaining.
Saracens, it has to be said, are made of tough stuff and with a last throw of the dice, they used their dominance at scrum time to win themselves an all-important shot at goal. Still with plenty to do - and under a chorus of boos around Sandy Park - Goode stepped forward to deliver the knockout blow.
Floored, there would be no chance of another revival for the Chiefs, who having not played the week before following the cancellation of their game with Wasps, came into the game parading 11 of their starting 15 from that which started the Heineken Champions Cup Final two years ago.
And it was that long-standing continuity within the ranks that allowed the home side to come out firing in this Round Seven encounter. The Chiefs dominated the opening exchanges, producing an all-action offensive that stretched Sarries the length and width of the pitch.
The visitors were scrambling in every area, but their cause was not aided when they lost skipper Farrell for a needless trip on England team-mate Jack Nowell and he was duly banished to the sidelines for a ten-minute stint. In his absence, Saracens held firm, as they did for much of a first half in which the Chiefs bossed both territory and possession.
Home pressure, though, was finally rewarded when Slade landed a long-range penalty to break the game’s deadlock on 23 minutes.
Chiefs joy proved short-lived as within two minutes Saracens - in a rare foray into enemy territory - hit the home side with a sucker punch. Exposing space out wide through Daly and Max Malins, they worked the ball back in field, right to left, into the grasp of Theo McFarland, who exposed a gap in the home defence to trot over unopposed.
It was ruthless efficiency from the visitors, who were soon back on the defensive as the Chiefs sought an instant response. A high tackle on Nowell allowed the home side to position themselves close to the line with a five-metre line-out, but the chance came and went in an instant.
However, as half time loomed large on the horizon, so the Chiefs threatened once more. Again, another close-range line-out was created, but when the drive came on this time, it was unceremoniously thwarted by the actions of Mako Vunipola. He became the second Saracen to see yellow, whilst referee Tom Foley had no option but to award the penalty try.
Even then there was still time for one last bit of action, Daly landed a penalty on the stroke of half time to ensure the two sides went in level at the turn.
HALF TIME: EXETER CHIEFS 10 SARACENS 10
Although up against the elements for the second half, the Chiefs - who had been forced to replace injured skipper Luke Cowan-Dickie in the interval - again came out firing on the resumption. Nowell’s early chip-and-chase set the tone for a rousing period of action, albeit without reward.
Moments later and the hosts threatened again, this time Stuart Hogg punting in behind the Saracens defence, triggering a foot race between Slade and Daly, the latter of whom was able to race back just in time to save the day.
Saracens were living dangerously, but restored to a full compliment following the return of Vunipola, they started to establish their own grip on proceedings. Happy to pin the Chiefs back with a simple, yet effective, kick game, it was now their turn to have the hammer down in the ‘Red Zone’.
Under pressure, the Chiefs did just as their rivals had done in the first half, but with Harvey Skinner infringing with hands in the ruck, he not only saw yellow, but Farrell slotted the resultant penalty to put his side back in front once more.
Farrell would add another successful penalty shortly after, but that would be the Englishman’s last telling contribution as he departed the scene just past the hour mark when he felt the effects of an accidental knee to the head from Joe Simmonds.
In his absence, Daly took on the kicking duties and duly showed his eye for goal, landing a 57-metre kick with aplomb after Foley had pinged the Chiefs for another scrum penalty.
The hosts turned to their bench in a bid to freshen things up and the introductions of Josh Iosefa-Scott, Jack Dunne and Sam Maunder had the desired effect. The latter was involved in the build-up to Exeter’s second try on 71 minutes, linking cleverly with Skinner, before Vermeulen burrowed his way over for the score, converted by Slade.
It triggered huge celebrations around all four corners of the ground, but still the Chiefs were behind as the game entered into its dying embers. The momentum, however, was with the hosts and with the supporters in full ‘War Cry’ they pressed further in attack.
Again, Maunder was at the heart of things, his snipe from the base of a ruck had Saracens in retreat, but as his forwards piled in behind him, the visitors were adjudged to have played the ball on the floor, offering Slade his chance to shine.
Not surprisingly, the experienced Exeter centre - who this week was left out of Eddie Jones’ England plans for the Autumn - stepped forward to remind the Aussie coach of his undoubted talent. Over went the kick and the Chiefs were back in front.
As has been the case this season at Sandy Park, supporters shouldn’t leave early. Late wins over Leicester Tigers and Harlequins have gone the way of the Chiefs, but on this occasion it was Saracens who emerged victorious, the visitors stealing it at the death as Exeter were made to pay the penalty.
Chiefs: S Hogg (J Simmonds 17-29, 54); J Nowell, H Slade, I Whitten, O Woodburn; H Skinner, J Maunder (S Maunder 64); A Hepburn (J Iosefa-Scott 46), L Cowan-Dickie (capt, J Yeandle h/t), H Williams (P Schickerling 59); R Van Heerden (J Dunne 57), J Gray; D Ewers (S Simmonds 52), C Tshiunza, J Vermeulen. Replacement (not used): R O’Loughlin
Tries - Penalty, Vermeulen; Conversion - Slade; Penalties - Slade (2)
Yellow Card: Skinner
Saracens: E Daly; M Malins, A Lozowski, N Tompkins, A Lewington (J Flynn 42-49); O Farrell (capt, A Goode 61), I Van Zyl; M Vunipola, K Pifeleti (T Dan 61), C Judge (A Clarey 67); M Itoje, H Tizard (C Hunter-Hill 52); T McFarland (A Christie 64), B Earl (J Wray 74), B Vunipola. Replacement (not used): R De Haas.
Try - McFarland; Conversion - Farrell; Penalties - Daly (2), Farrell (2), Goode
Yellow Cards: Farrell, M Vunipola
Referee: T Foley
Attendance: 12,666