Chiefs hammer Saints
PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Exeter Chiefs ran in eight tries as they thumped Northampton Saints 57-7 at Sandy Park to stretch their lead at the top of the Premiership Rugby table.
An intense opening to the game was evenly fought but, after Saints had sustained considerable pressure for a period, Exeter scored the first try when Tom O'Flaherty broke from his own 22 and set up Jonny Hill to dot down.
*As it happened: Exeter v Saints
This momentum swing was all that the hosts needed to press home their advantage as Elvis Taione powered over from short range before Jannes Kirsten added a third on the stroke of half-time.
Exeter’s bonus point was secured shortly after the break when Tom Hendrickson found a hole in Saints’ defence to cross.
And Ben Moon made it five tries with a sensational carving break before Hendrickson got his second as he forced his way over from seven metres out.
James Grayson skipped over to grab a consolation try but O'Flaherty dotted down to bring up the 50-point mark for the home side and Sam Simmonds crossed the whitewash under the bar at the death.
The scorers:
For Exeter Chiefs:
Tries: Hill, Taione, Kirsten, Hendrickson 2, Moon, O'Flaherty, Simmonds.
COns: Simmonds 5, Steenson 2
Pen: Simmonds
For Northampton Saints:
Try: Grayson
Con: Grayson
Yellow card: Tom Collins (Northampton Saints, 35)
Teams:
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Phil Dollman, 14 Tom O’Flaherty, 13 Ian Whitten, 12 Tom Hendrickson, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Joe Simmonds (captain), 9 Nic White, 8 Sam Simmonds, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Jannes Kirsten, 3 Harry Williams, 2 Elvis Taione, 1 Ben Moon
Replacements: 16 Jordon Poole, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Enrique Pieretto, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Don Armand, 21 Jack Maunder, 22 Gareth Steenson, 23 Max Bodilly
Northampton Saints: 15 Harry Mallinder, 14 Ahsee Tuala, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Andrew Symons, 11 Tom Collins, 10 James Grayson, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Teimana Harrison (captain), 7 JJ Tonks, 6 Tom Wood, 5 Lewis Bean, 4 Alex Coles, 3 Paul Hill, 2 James Fish, 1 Francois van Wyk
Replacements: 16 Mike Haywood, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Owen Franks, 19 Ben Glynn, 20 Lewis Ludlam, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Fraser Dingwall, 23 Taqele Naiyaravoro
Referee: Jack Makepeace
Assistant Referees: Tom Foley & Jonathan Healy.
TMO: Keith Lewis.