Northampton: Shatter Chiefs' hopes

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• Exeter
• Northampton

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Northampton edged past Exeter 18-15 at Sandy Park on Sunday to move back into the Aviva Premiership play-off picture.

The home fans were scenting a famous victory that would have sealed a top-four finish for the Chiefs as they went into half time 10-3 ahead.

However Northampton, with the wind behind them, scored second-half tries through wingers Chris Ashton and Paul Diggin to climb above the Chiefs in the table with one match remaining.

Exeter claimed a losing bonus point at the death with a try from Richard Baxter. But they face a far tougher final fixture against third-placed Saracens at Vicarage Road while Saints entertain Worcester Warriors.

Stephen Myler kicked the Saints ahead after some early pressure but a quick-tap penalty from Haydn Thomas created the momentum for Gonzalo Camacho to burst through a couple of tackles and lunge over the line.

Ignacio Mieres converted and added a penalty as the Chiefs grew in authority in front of their home fans and a favourable first-half wind.

However Northampton hit back straight after the break with Ashton flying in at the corner following a neat wrap-around move in midfield and slick passing out to the right flank.

Meires pulled a penalty effort left of the uprights from long-range, while Myler landed simple penalty with 17 minutes remaining to edge Saints in front.

And with six minutes remaining Diggin scarpered over in the left corner after a powerful Saints scrum won the ball against the head.

Myler's added the touchline conversion before Baxter burst over in the last minute to grab the bonus point.

The scorers:

For Exeter:
Tries: Baxter, Camacho
Con: Mieres
Pen: Mieres

For Northampton:
Tries: Ashton, Diggin
Con: Myler
Pens: Myler 2

Exeter: 15 Phil Dollman, 14 Gonzalo Camacho, 13 Bryan Rennie, 12 Jason Shoemark, 11 Matt Jess, 10 Ignacio Mieres, 9 Haydn Thomas, 8 Richard Baxter, 7 James Scaysbrook, 6 Tom Johnson, 5 James Hanks, 4 Tom Hayes (capt), 3 Hoani Tui, 2 Chris Whitehead, 1 Ben Moon.
Replacements: 16 Neil Clark, 17 Brett Sturgess, 18 Chris Budgen, 19 Aly Muldowney, 20 Ben White, 21 Kevin Barrett, 22 Gareth Steenson, 23 Sireli Naqelevuki.

Northampton: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 George Pisi, 12 James Downey, 11 Paul Diggin, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Lee Dickson (capt), 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Phil Dowson, 6 James Craig, 5 Christian Day, 4 Mark Sorenson, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Andy Long, 1 Soane Tonga'uiha.
Replacements: 16 Ross McMillan, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Paul Doran-Jones, 19 Teimana Harrison, 20 Ben Nutley, 21 Martin Roberts, 22 Ryan Lamb, 23 Tom May.

Referee: Andrew Small