Chiefs slip to second defeat

The only way is up for Exeter Chiefs after they slipped to a second successive Aviva Premiership defeat of the season.

After two rounds of league battle, Rob Baxter’s side are still searching for their first win of the season after reigning English and Europeans champions Saracens stormed to a five-try victory at Sandy Park.

In a dominant display from the Londoners, first half tries from Alex Lozowski and Sean Maitland set the tone, before Maitland struck for a second time, alongside further scores from Jackson Wray and Ben Spencer.

Full-back Alex Goode weighed in with a further nine points as Mark McCall’s side again underlined why they will be the team to beat this season.

In reply, Henry Slade kicked two first half penalties for the Devonians, while Luke Cowan-Dickie burrowed over for a converted second half try in front of watching England head coach Eddie Jones.

However, it was never enough as Saracens – the only team to win at Sandy Park in 20 months heading into this latest tussle – marched on at the top of the table.

Having kicked off the new campaign with a 25-20 loss at Wasps, Baxter was hoping a return to home comforts would allow his team to get their season up and running against last season’s stand-out team.

Exeter’s leader made three changes to his starting XV, drafting in Greg Holmes and Geoff Parling up front, while behind Lachie Turner was handed his first start of the season with Olly Woodburn sidelined through injury.

Saracens, meanwhile, arrived in Devon initially unchanged from the side that defeated Worcester Warriors the week previous, but a back spasm to England lock George Kruis ahead of kick-off meant he missed out and Jim Hamilton was promoted from the bench with Kelly Brown drafted in to fill the void on the sidelines.