New-look Northampton Saints still have what it takes

By Rob Wildman

Northampton Saints ……30pts

Tries: Coles 9, Munga 45, Hutchinson 49

Conversions: Smith 9, 45, 49

Penalties: Smith 10, 29

Drop goal: Smith 60

Exeter Chiefs ……………… 24pts

Tries: Woodburn 37, Feyi-Waboso 69, 77 Conversions: Hodge 37, 69, 77

Penalty: Hodge 43

The champions might have lost the talismanic Courtney Lawes and Lewis Ludlam to France but this new-look team were still too good for Exeter.

Northampton played well for an hour and then needed some late defence to fend off an Exeter revival after leading 30-10 going into the final quarter.

Overall, it was a triumphant night featuring an accomplished display from Fin Smith who kicked 15 points including a nonchalant second-half drop goal when Saints were at their best.

Northampton won the match just after half-time when tries by lock Chunya Munga and centre Rory Hutchinson fired them clear of a frustrated Exeter team who still had the determination to rally through two tries from England wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.

Saints had been greeted by fireworks to celebrate their first home appearance since that triumphant day at Twickenham in June when they beat Bath for the Premiership title.

First Half

The first half did not quite match the sideshow and spluttered along as Northampton grabbed the early momentum helped by Exeter conceding too many penalties just like they did in their defeat to Leicester last Saturday.

Northampton took advantage to lead 13-7 at half-time propelled by an excellent try from Coles, the lock latching onto hooker Curtis Langdon’s pass after No 8 Juarno Augustus had sped through.

Smith added the conversion of the ninth-minute try and also landed two penalty goals for Exeter infringements, the first from just inside the visiting half.

Northampton led 13-0 and must have kicked themselves for missing out on a second try, especially when Tommy Freeman raced clear on the left.

Exeter were also frustrated. Until Olly Woodburn finished off a break by Harvey Skinner four minutes from the interval, they were lacked a cutting edge and coughed up too much ball.

Yet, despite the penalties and fumbles, Exeter still turned round well in the match, full-back Josh Hodge having converted Woodburn’s try to cut Northampton’s margin to six points.

Second Half

Exeter took immediate steps at half-time to stop silly penalties by substituting their front-row including former Saints’ Ehren Painter.

A penalty three minutes into the half by Hodge, from near halfway, cut the deficit further but Exeter were undone by another error.

This time scrum-half Sam Maunder was slow to clear from the base of a ruck and he had his clearing kick charged down by Munga who finished off by collecting the loose ball for his team’s second try.

Smith converted to put Saints 20-10 ahead and they then enjoyed a purple patch which ended in a third try when Hutchinson was picked out by Furbank’s pinpoint cross kick on the left.

Smith maintained his goal-kicking excellence by adding a third conversion for a Saints lead of 27-10 after 49 minutes.

And the No 10, growing in confidence, grabbed the ball on the hour mark to drop a goal from near

40-metres for another score.

At 30-10 up, Northampton looked in the clear but they were given the hurry up by Exeter’s late rally which two tries for wing Feyi-Waboso.

The first in the 69th minute was only awarded after a long deliberation by the match officials over a disputed knock on.

That gave Exeter some hope and the sin-binning of Hutchinson gave Exeter the space to work the wing clear again.

Both tries were converted by Hodge to cut Northampton’s lead to 30-24 but the home team hung on for a deserved win.