Jubilant Chiefs go straight to beer tent

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER

 

Exeter …………….18pts

Tries: O’Flaherty 38, Cowan-Dickie 56 Conversions: J Simmonds 57

Penalties: J Simmonds 25, 64

Saracens ……….15pts

Penalties: Lozowski 4, 27, 45, 67, 71

EXETER renewed their Premiership rivalry with Saracens after a season’s hiatus with the most satisfying of wins on an afternoon when the victory counted more than the manner that achieved it.

Although perking up in the second half the game was some way short of the classic that many hoped for, but given the two clubs’ recent history that won’t bother anybody at Sandy Park.

It was realistically always going to be an arm wrestle, a battle of wills and a bit niggly. One for the fans not the purists.

Suitably enough most of the Exeter players headed straight for the beer tent and a pint with the Sandy Park faithful on the final whistle. This was for them.

All of which contrasted with a distinctly average first half in tricky if hardly impossible conditions

Saracens, with Maro Itoje a force of nature throughout, made the quicker start and went into the lead with a 40 metre penalty from Alex Lozowski but Exeter were the first to threaten the line.

Max Malins successfully caught a high kick but then threw a careless pass to his right which went to ground. Chiefs pounced, Joe Simmonds kicked ahead, Henry Slade followed up, quick rucked ball followed and Sam Simmonds was burrowing over for a trademark try.

Except that Slade was then judged to have been in front of Simmonds when he kicked.

He might have been – by about three inches – but it seemed to demand a closer inspection than the officials granted.

The game meandered on with Billy Vunipola being marched back twice for questioning a decision from Luke Pearce – schoolboy errors – and soon Joe Simmonds levelled the scores with a penalty.

Lozowksi hit back with a second penalty for Saracens before finally, as the half-time whistle approached, there was some purposeful rugby to enjoy.

Exeter were moving forward down the right with an advantage to use and when the ball came back Joe Simmonds picked out Tom O’Flaherty on the left wing with a cross-field kick. Much better.

The early part of the second half spluttered a little with Sarries regaining the lead with a third penalty from Lozowski although Sarries also got pulled up a third time for back chat.

It was Exeter who had the last word, though. They soon claimed a well worked lineout rumble from short range – their staple had been letting them down thus far this season – for Luke Cowan- Dickie to finish it off.

A big day for the England hooker who was captaining the side for the first time and also returning from an ankle injury.

Saracens clawed their way back into contention with another brace of penalties from the uber consistent Lozowski – but Exeter got firmly back on the front foot as full time approached.

A savage, sustained 26 phase attack seemed certain to result in a try to finish proceedings off and for all excellence of the Saracens’ defence, it really should have resulted in any one of three unmarked Chiefs scoring wide on the right.

England second row Jonny Hill, however, was intent on putting his head down and charging across the line and was brilliantly wrapped up by Malins and Vincent Koch who at least ensured a losing bonus point for Sarries.