Exeter Chiefs 31 Northampton Saints 30

It was like a Rocky movie, the two prized fighters battled it out until the death, after which the hero rose from the deck in the final round to claim a famous victory.

In this case, it was reigning Aviva Premiership champions Exeter Chiefs who hauled themselves off the deck to claim a first league win of 2018.

With time up on the clock, a converted Thomas Waldrom try floored visiting Northampton Saints, who came within a whisker of inflicting a fourth successive top-flight loss on Rob Baxter’s side.

Instead, the Chiefs are back on top of the table and still on course to seal themselves a home semi-final in the end of season play-offs.

Again, though, Devon’s finest were not at their bristling best. For an hour at least they failed to show the same fluidity that has been evident for much of the current campaign. The final ten minutes, however, was more of what we come to expect from the ‘Men in Black’.

Down by 13 points, Don Armand kick-started the fightback when he side-stepped his way under the posts, before the free-scoring Waldrom rumbled over with the final play of a nail-biting contest.

Earlier, a penalty try and a touchdown from Alec Hepburn were the only other highlights in an Exeter showing, which looked nervy and edgy for long periods.

The Saints, meanwhile, were a much-improved outfit from that which had tackled the champions at Franklin’s Gardens back in December. They claimed tries through Rob Horne, Ben Foden and Harry Mallinder, while Piers Francis and Stephen Myler shared the kicking duties.

After three successive league defeats, Baxter’s side were desperate to put an end to their dismal run of results against a Saints outfit, who they had already beaten twice this season in various competitions.
Ahead of kick-off, the Chiefs made four changes to their starting line-up from that which had been beaten at Wasps last time out. Into the pack came Greg Holmes, Sam Skinner and Waldrom, while behind Ian Whitten was preferred to Argentinian winger Santiago Cordero on the right wing.

Saints, fresh from a home win against London Irish the week previous, arrived in the Westcountry having made two changes in personnel. Mallinder returned at full-back having been released from life in the England camp, while Michael Paterson was a late switch in the second-row with David Ribbans having pulled out prior to kick-off after he failed a late fitness test.

The early skirmishes were largely uneventful as the battle for possession and territory were restricted to more of a slug-fest upfront. The Chiefs looked the more enterprising in attack, but far too often they were guilty of either over complicating matters – or simply not hanging onto the ball long enough to cause any significant damage.

For the full story, go to: https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/chiefs-31-saints-30