Chiefs beaten by an impressive Northampton Saints side

Saints 38 - Chiefs 11

Report by Mark Stevens

Exeter’s wait for a first-ever win at Franklin’s Gardens will continue for another year at least as the Chiefs were swot to one side by an impressive Northampton Saints side.

Jim Mallinder’s hosts ran in five tries – four of them in the first half – through Dylan Hartley, Ken Pisi, Tom Wood, George Pisi and Samu Manoa, whilst fly-half Stephen Myler added a further 13 points with a faultless display with the boot. It was simply too much for the Chiefs who, despite a much-improved second half showing, could only counter with a try from Aussie international Dean Mumm and two penalties from fly-half Gareth Steenson.

With pre-season done and dusted for another year, the Chiefs headed into the campaign with a familiar look to their starting line-up. Indeed, of the seven new recruits brought in by Baxter during the summer, it was only Welsh international Tom James who was handed a start in the East Midlands.

Otherwise, the Chiefs – who were led out by new skipper Mumm – were happy to go with their tried and trusted of last season against a powerful Saints line-up, which included three debutants in the form of No.8 Sam Dickinson and victorious British & Irish Lions duo Alex Corbisiero and George North.

Also in from the outset for the home side was skipper Hartley, who was playing his first top flight fixture since being sent off in last season’s Premiership final against Leicester Tigers at Twickenham for swearing at referee Wayne Barnes.

And it took Hartley just three minutes to make his mark in this encounter as he claimed Northampton’s opening try – converted by Myler – when he snuck over in the right-hand corner following a powerful opening blitz from the Saints.

Although it was an early setback for the Chiefs, the visitors responded well as a solid rolling maul released James into space and in the ensuing play Saints flanker Phil Dowson deliberately killed the ball under his own posts.

The England international was duly dispatched to the sin-bin for ten minutes, whilst Steenson happily slotted over his first points of the new campaign.

NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v London Wasps (H), Aviva Premiership, Saturday, September 14 (3pm)

Pictures: Exeter Rugby Club/Pinnacle Photo Agency

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