Exeter Chiefs 36 Northampton Saints 12
These are indeed heady days for Rob Baxter and his Exeter Chiefs side after they became the first Aviva Premiership Rugby side to secure seven straight bonus-point wins with their biggest-ever victory against Northampton Saints.
Devon’s finest kept up their quest for a home semi-final in this season play-offs with another polished, six-try blast here at Sandy Park.
Northampton had the first word through JJ Hanrahan and the last through Ahsee Tuala, but in between they were no match for the high-flying Chiefs, who powered to a 14th league win of the season thanks to an Olly Woodburn double and further touchdowns from Don Armand, Ian Whitten, Jack Nowell and Sam Hill.
It means victory at Gloucester next week and Baxter’s side will again have home advantage in their quest to reach the Twickenham showpiece next month.
Who they will face, however, will not be known until the close of play in what should be an enthralling Round 22, where there are more conundrums than on Channel 4’s Countdown.
With leaders Wasps facing third-placed Saracens at the Ricoh, something is sure to give in the race to be crowned 2017 Premiership Kings.
On this display, the Chiefs once again underlined their title credentials. Despite leaking a fifth minute try to Hanrahan, who picked off an intercept pass from Ollie Devoto, it was all one-way traffic despite the home side playing into a strong first half wind.
Although the visitors struck first, Jim Mallinder’s Saints outfit spent much of the first half on the defensive and it seemed inevitable that the Chiefs would hit back.
Initially the Chiefs – who lost Greg Holmes and Dave Ewers to early injuries – were guilty of trying to over complicate things. When they did get it right midway through the half, Nowell was unable to apply the finishing touch in the right corner, thanks in the main to a stunning last-gasp tackle from Ben Foden.
The let-off lasted only a moment of minutes as back roared the Devonians, using their heavyweight pack to punch holes into the Northampton rearguard that Britain’s Anthony Joshua would have been proud of. In the end, the power play of the Chiefs fashioned the opening for Armand to cross by the sticks and Gareth Steenson added the extras.
Minutes later and the hosts were at it again, this time making the most of winger Ken Pisi’s yellow card to score a second try. On this occasion a driving maul was halted by stout Northampton defence, after which the lively Stuart Townsend fed Woodburn on the blindside and the in-form winger needed no showing where the line was.
The Chiefs could – and probably should – have added to their lead before the break, but it was a more than useful return against the elements.
Half time: Exeter Chiefs 12 Northampton Saints 7.
Read the full match report here.
