Saints 26 Chiefs 19
Northampton Saints 26
Exeter Chiefs 19
Mark Stevens at Franklin’s Gardens
On Bonfire Weekend, Exeter Chiefs are desperately looking for that spark to ignite their Gallagher Premiership campaign.
Undone for a third successive game, this time at Northampton Saints, these are indeed tough times for Devon’s finest.
Even though they scored their hosts 3-2 on the try-count, it was the boot of home fly-half Fin Smith, plus two touchdowns from Tommy Freeman, which ultimately put paid to the Chiefs.
Ruben Van Heerden’s early score, plus 14 points from Joe Simmonds, at least ensured the Chiefs headed home with at least a bonus point. But, in truth, they are craving much more.
Having come unstuck in their last two top-flight encounters against Saracens and Gloucester, Rob Baxter’s side arrived in the East Midlands looking to address that statistic at a venue where they have held the upper edge in recent times.
International call-ups and a mounting injury list meant the visitors were forced to make three changes from that which lost at Kingsholm seven days earlier. In the pack, Jack Dunne was added in place of Jonny Gray, while behind there were starts for Simmonds and Dan John.
The Saints, meanwhile, welcomes back Freeman and Courtnall Skosan in their back division, whilst there was a first Premiership start of the season for Ehren Painter at tight-head. The only other change saw Angus Scott-Young come into the back-row alongside former Chief, Aaron Hinkley.
With personnel in place following the traditional Gardens Remembrance Service, it was the visitors - just as they had done at Gloucester - who came out flying from the traps. The Chiefs dominated the early exchanges, using their forwards as the battering ram, before allowing the backs to cut loose.
And the pressure was rewarded inside the opening ten minutes. A penalty to the corner allowed the visitors to try their luck down the blindside through Dave Ewers and skipper Jack Yeandle, before the ball was worked back in field through a plethora of different hands.
It was a patient, yet prolonged, attack from the Chiefs, who having battered away at the Saints defensive dam, eventually saw South African lock Van Heerden barge his way over for the opening try, converted by Simmonds.
Up and running, it was the ideal start for the Devonians, who were happy to battle it out for territory in an extensive game of ‘kick tennis’. When running rugby finally resumed, it was the Saints who were able to cut the deficit, recent signing Smith landing a lengthy penalty after the Chiefs strayed offside in midfield.
Still ahead on the scoreboard, the visitors looked to respond almost immediately with a brilliant counter-attack from full-back Josh Hodge. He scythed his way through the middle only to be tackled at the death by Northampton scrum-half Tom James.
At the other end, it was the turn of the Midlanders to flex their muscles in attack, a slick raid releasing Ollie Sleightholme, whose chip in behind sparked a foot race between himself and Exeter’s Jack Maunder, the latter doing just enough to thwart the home winger in the left corner.
The Chiefs made the most of the let-off to then instigate their own attack, Aussie prop Scott Sio leading the charge with a rampaging run through the heart of the Northampton defence. It triggered yet more phase play from the visitors, but the Saints were able to repel the threat with a brilliant turnover from Sam Graham.
Inspired by the actions of the Saints No.8, it was the turn of the Saints to strike once more. With 31 minutes showing on the clock, a kick in behind pinned John back deep in his own 22. However, as the young Welshman did his best to fend off a clutch of advancing tacklers, he was pinned to the floor and the penalty awarded.
Quick-thinking from the hosts, they caught the Chiefs napping and there was Freeman to ease over for their opening try, which Smith converted well from the left touchline.
HALF TIME: NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 10 EXETER CHIEFS 7
Having already lost Ian Whitten early in the contest, Exeter’s cause was further hampered when they were forced to replace both Woodburn and Yeandle during the interval.
Exeter’s first real action of the half, though, was for them to propel their rivals back at a rate of knots with a forceful line-out drive. They made a good 15 metres before the hosts were able to halt their progress sufficiently, eventually winning a turnover scrum.
Frustrated by their inability to make the pressure pay dividends, the Chiefs were then punished in the space of five minutes with two successful Smith penalties that stretched the home side’s lead to nine points.
The Chiefs coaches turned to their bench to try and find some additional spark back into the game. The hulking frame of Dafydd Jenkins was one of them and it was from his steal that the visitors were able to claim their second try of the night.
With Hinkley sidelined with a yellow card for a high hit on Jack Maunder, the Welshman stole a brilliant Saints line-out to get his team back on the front foot. Numerous pick-and-go raids were worked from right to left and into the grasp of Simmonds to burrow over.
Not content with one try, Simmonds then doubled his tally just moment later, the Chiefs playmaker charging down an intended chip over the top from Fraser Dingwall before picking up the loose ball and racing clear to score the try, he was also able to convert.
But no sooner had the Chiefs edged back in front, they were pegged back from the restart when following a charged down kick of their own, Hodge did his best to do a clean up job, only to be pinned on the deck where was unable to release the ball.
Smith slotted the penalty before producing another stunning effort from wide on the left after Freeman had dived over for his second of the night, finishing off a pass from Alex Mitchell - on his 100th appearance for the club - in the left corner.
Again, the Chiefs had it all to do again with less than ten minutes remaining on the clock. They huffed and puffed, but answers were short in numbers. Indeed, it was the Saints who had the final chance, Vermeulen penalised for side entry midway inside his own half.
Not only was the clock all but up, but if gifted the hosts another shot at goal. With Smith no longer on the field after feeling the full effects of Van Heerden running over him, replacement George Furbank stepped forward to take the penalty.
Thankfully, his lengthy kick sailed wide of the mark, ensuring the losing bonus point remained in the grasp of the Chiefs, who must regroup this next week for the visit of London Irish to Devon.
Saints: T Freeman; C Skosan, F Dingwall (capt), R Hutchinson (M Proctor 61), O Sleightholme (G Furbank 33); F Smith (R Smith 76), T James (A Mitchell 47); E Iyogun (A Waller 52), M Haywood, E Painter (P Hill 52); L Salakaia-Loto, A Moon; A Scott-Young, A Hinkley, S Graham. Replacements (not used): B Nansen, K Sylvester
Tries - Freeman (2); Conversion - Smith (2); Penalties - Smith (4)
Yellow Card: Hinkley
Chiefs: J Hodge; D John, R O'Loughlin, I Whitten (S O’Brien 9), O Woodburn (W Becconsall 40); J Simmonds, J Maunder (S Maunder 61); S Sio (A Hepburn 53), J Yeandle (capt, J Innard 40), H Williams (J Iosefa-Scott 69); J Dunne (D Jenkins 49), R Van Heerden; D Ewers, L Pearson, J Vermeulen. Replacement (not used): R Tuima
Tries - Van Heerden, J Simmonds (2); Conversion - J Simmonds (2)
Referee: C Maxwell-Keys