Naqelevuki helps Exeter to gritty win over Saracens in woeful conditions

A crucial second half from Sireli Naqelevuki helped Exeter claim a spirited 14-12 win over Saracens in horrendous weather conditions at Sandy Park.
Naqelevuki’s try in the left corner came on the 54th minute, five minutes after Chris Ashton, who should have been defending in that position, was sinned binned for a reckless charge into a maul.
Following their shock 25-24 defeat to London Welsh last week, the Chiefs were keen to make amend but they were facing a Saracens side never shy of a win away from home.
Exeter dominated the exchanges up front to enjoy most of the first half possession and territory but handling errors prevented them from taking a bigger lead than 9-6.
In the second half, they mostly defended as Saracens upped the tempo and brought their experienced bench into the game but, led by a brilliant James Scaysbrook, they put on an impressive display to keep their line intact and earn their second success of the season.
Saracens put on a tremendous effort in defence to keep Exeter out in the first half but could consider themselves lucky to only trail by three points at the break.
Despite the weather conditions, they were keen to throw the ball around and attack the wider channels but they couldn’t break the Chiefs defence who kept them at bay all game long.
Owen Farrell and Ignacio Mieres exchanged penalties in the first half to see the Chiefs lead 9-6 at the break.
Farrell leveled the score early in the second half before Ashton was sin binned.
Following a well worked lineout, Naqelevuki’s effort gave his side a vital 14-9 lead despite Mieres’ missed conversion.
Farrell reduced the score with his fourth penalty of the game soon after before it was Chris Whitehead’s turn to go to the bin for slowing down the ruck illegally.
Mieres then went from super kicker to super defender with a superb cover tackle on James Short who looked set to score in the corner following a wide move from the backs.
Saracens kept attacking and putting the Chiefs defence under huge pressure but they knocked the ball on on the last play of the game 20 metres away from the line and had to settle with a losing bonus point in their first loss of the season.
Exeter: Arscott; Dollman, Whitten, Naqelevuki, Jess; Mieres, Thomas; Sturgess, Whitehead, Rimmer; Hayes (capt.), Hanks; Phillips, Scaysbrook, Baxter.
Replacements: Alcott, Moon, Budgen, Muldowney, White, Chudley, Steenson, Nowell.
Saracens: Goode; Ashton, Taylor, Barritt, Short; Farrell, De Kock; Vunipola, George, Nieto; Hargreaves, Botha; Brown (capt.), Fraser, Wray.
Replacements: Brits, Gill, Stevens, Borthwick, Joubert, Wigglesworth, Hodgson, Tomkins.
Man of the Match: James Scaysbrook – Exeter
NICK VERDIER