Premiership: Exeter 31-22 Saracens: Chiefs get first bonus-point win of the season
This game was no different to those fixtures seen in the second half of the last decade as the two clubs battled for the title.
Exeter have lost 13 of their 14 Premier League and European games this season – their worst ever run of top-flight competition – with Saracens missing many of their stars due to injuries ahead of England’s Six Nations training camp.
Alex Lozowski hit a third-minute penalty against Saracens but four minutes later when Juan Martin Gonzalez They were reduced to 14 when he landed on the head, at which time he was fined.
With the Argentine advancing, Exeter’s sinister forwards took advantage as Innard was partially injured shortly afterwards by a five-metre mess.
Impressive young winger Elliott headed over the corner from Liam Williams’ pass after a strong run from Hugh Tizzard. Saracens put it on the head again, which allowed the Saracens defender to score.
Gonzalez thought he had put Saracens further ahead but his half-hour try was chalked off after the build-up.
The hosts were three points behind at the break and regained the lead shortly after the interval.
A 51st-minute infringement kicked Exeter into a corner and from the resulting line-up Maul Frost was inches short, but a few phases later Harvey Skinner Harvey Skinner left the ball wide open and he passed the ball to Rigg, who added a quality try for his second priority. season.
Exeter’s fragile confidence was knocked when Ben Hammersley let Ivan van Zyl’s box-kick pass his arm, Eli Elliott was there dragging the ball and then trying it for the second time.
But just minutes later, Paul Brown-Bampe’s barnstorming victory was correct and Wyatt made it clear for his third try.
Fergus Burke’s error in collecting a box kick brought Franco Molia together and he fed an impressive frost who rooted for the fourth try.
Any hope Saracens had left was extinguished when Wilson saw red and Frost was forced into fifth.
But Saracens did not give up and Marwe forced Molina in from close range shortly after he was fouled by a yellow card.
