Chiefs 14 Saracens 12
- Pictures: Exeter Rugby Club/Pinnacle Photo Agency
Exeter Chiefs 14
Saracens 12
By Mark Stevens at Sandy Park
What a difference a week can make.
Subdued seven days ago by Aviva Premiership newcomers London Welsh, Exeter Chiefs returned to winning ways by claiming the prized scalp of Saracens in an attritional battle at wet and wild Sandy Park.
Nine points from the boot of Argentine marksman Ignacio Mieres, plus a second half try for Fijian centre Sireli Naqelevuki, proved sufficient enough to down the Londoners, who replied with three penalties of their own from England international Owen Farrell.
It was just reward for the Chiefs, who after successive away-day losses at Northampton Saints and London Welsh, were certainly glad of a return to home comforts. With injuries ruling out international stars Craig Mitchell and Tom Johnson, Baxter handed first Premiership starts of the season to Carl Rimmer and James Phillips. Behind them, the back division was re-jigged slightly with Haydn Thomas back nine; Ian Whitten returning to the midfield and Phil Dollman slotting in on the wing.
Saracens, fresh from their 9-9 draw with Leicester Tigers at Wembley, also made changes to their starting personnel with Jamie George, Alistair Hargreaves and Will Fraser brought into the forwards and Duncan Taylor handed a start at outside centre.
In a ferocious opening to the contest, one in which both sets of forwards were happy to pile into each other with little respect for their bodies, it was the Chiefs who came within a whisker of breaking the game's deadlock on nine minutes. A series of close-in raids saw Exeter punch their way deep into the heart of the Sarries rearguard, but just as it appeared as though the hosts were about to strike, a knock-on on the line by home hooker Chris Whitehead saw the chance come and go.
The visitors made the most of the let-off as within minutes fly-half Farrell stroked his side in front with a penalty after James Scaysbrook had been pulled up for offending at a ruck by referee Sean Davey.
That lead proved shortlived, however, as Exeter responded almost immediately with a kick of their own through Mieres, who was able to dispatch a long-range effort after the visitors were adjudged to have not rolled awat from the tackle.
Farrell and Mieres exchanged further kicks, the latter of which saw Sarries skipper Kelly Brown sent to the sin-bin for cyncially killing the ball just yards from his own line, before the Chiefs claimed the lead for the first time when the Argentine ace thundered over another massive kick following a huge shunt from the Exeter eight at a scrum.
Even then there were chances for both No.10s to add to their tally before the break, but the howling wind and driving rain ensured their efforts were wide of the mark.
HALF TIME EXETER CHIEFS 9 SARACENS 6
The visitors introduced established stars Schalk Brits, Steve Borthwick and Richard Wigglesworth early in the second period and the fresh injection appeared to bring early reward as the extra bulk in the Sarries scrum enabled them to pop Rimmer out of the side - and up stepped Farrell to land the resulting penalty to level the scores at nine apiece.
With little to choose between either side at that stage, Saracens shot themselves in the foot when England winger Chris Ashton became the second player sent to the cooler when he needlessly came flying into a ruck with a rather ugly no-arm charge.
Referee Davey consulted the TMO to review the incident and when the dust had settled, the former Northampton speedster was sent to the sidelines for a 10-minute spell. With Ashton often off the park, the Chiefs made the most of the advantage as they created a clever overlap on the blindside through Will Chudley and Matt Jess to send Naqelevuki over in the left corner.
Further big hitters emerged from the Saracens bench as the half ticked by, but still the Chiefs were doing enough to keep the former champions at bay.
Farrell cut the deficit to two points with his third kick of the game just before the hour mark, but then saw another effort - which also saw Whitehead binned for the home side - sail wide of the sticks.
However, roared on by a vocal home faithful in the stands, Exeter continued to dig deep into their reserves as Saracens look to stage one last wave of attacks on the Exeter line. Replacement Charlie Hodgson tried - and failed - with a lengthy penalty chance with ten minutes remaining, whilst another late charge was cleverly halted by a stream of black jerseys.
With the game into the last minute, Saracens pushed once more in the hope of snatching a last-gasp victory. The Chiefs, though, were not to be denied and with a bulldozing tackle in midfield from hooker Simon Alcott, visiting prop Matt Stevens knocked the ball on in the challenge and the moment was lost.
That was that as far Saracens were concerned - and as the final seconds clicked to a close - the roar of delight which bellowed from the sidelines was there to be heard. The Chiefs were back on song, now it's onto Welford Road and a date with the wounded Leicester Tigers.
Chiefs: L Arscott; P Dollman (M Foster 63), I Whitten, S Naqelevuki, M Jess; I Mieres, H Thomas (W Chudley 48); B Sturgess, C Whitehead, C Rimmer; T Hayes (capt), J Hanks (A Muldowney 60); J Phillips (B White 52), J Scaysbrook (S Alcott 64), R Baxter. Replacements (not used): B Moon, C Budgen, G Steenson
Try - Naqelevuki; Penalties - Mieres (3)
Yellow Card: Whitehead
Saracens: A Goode; C Ashton, D Taylor (C Hodgson 67), B Barritt, J Short; O Farrell (C Hodgson 25-34), N De Kock (R Wigglesworth h/t); M Vunipola (R Gill 46), J George (S Brits 46), C Nieto (M Stevens 52); A Hargreaves (S Borthwick 46), M Botha; K Brown (capt), W Fraser, J Wray (E Joubert 71). Replacement (not used): J Tomkins.
Penalties - Farrell (4)
Yellow Cards: Brown, Ashton
Referee: S Davey
Touch Judges: A Rowden & P Dix
4th Official: L Pearce
Attendance: 6,141
UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Leicester Tigers (A), Aviva Premiership, Saturday, September 28 (2.15pm)