Saints take huge step with win over Exeter

Northampton took a giant leap forwards in their era under head coach Chris Boyd as they sealed a 31-28 victory over Exeter Chiefs on Friday.

This was their fifth Premiership win of the season and lifts them provisionally up to fourth, above Wasps and Harlequins who meet on Saturday. For Exeter they can at least take pride in how they ended the game, crossing for a fourth try that also saw them take a losing bonus-point.

Rob Baxter’s team subsequently extend their lead at the summit to five points, but Saracens will hope to pick up a maximum against Worcester.

On to the game at Franklin’s Gardens and Northampton raced out of the blocks with a wonderful try that was sparked by winger Tom Collins. Dan Biggar was in support and duly offloaded to Piers Francis who finished smartly. Biggar was impressive on the night alongside Cobus Reinach.

Biggar doubled the lead on nine minutes but the Exeter machine then got into gear, levelling the contest with a penalty try to go with Santiago Cordero’s finish wide on the right to complete the recovery. It looked at that point like the burly Chiefs were about to roll over the home side.

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However, replacement Fraser Dingwall’s slick try took Northampton into the interval leading 21-14. One felt though that Exeter would strike back and so it proved soon after the break as carry after carry led to England prop Ben Moon going over. Once again the contest was levelled up.

Reinach was then the poacher as he intercepted a Nic White pass to go in from 60 metres out and with Biggar adding a penalty they led 31-21.

But Exeter aren’t former champions by fluke and their juggernaut of a pack came up trumps late on as Matt Kvesic crossed to seal two points.