Exeter Chiefs See Proud Home Run End
An unbeaten home run going back to October 2022 has come to an end for the Exeter Chiefs after a dramatic conclusion to a top-of-the-table clash with Northampton at Sandy Park.
In a match that will live long in the memory, the Chiefs came out of the box strongly and hit the front after just five minutes when Jacques Vermeulen opened the scoring before Emmanuel Feyi-Waboso also crossed the line just seven minutes later – although Henry Slade was unable to convert the extras for the latter.
Stu Townsend and Vermeulen added further tries before the game was 25 minutes old, with both converted by Slade to put the Chiefs into a 26-0 lead.
Things changed however when Dafydd Jenkins was sent to the sinbin on the half hour mark, with Northampton making the most of having the extra man as Calum Braley and Ollie Sleightholme scored in quick succession to reduce the deficit to twelve points at half time.
When Slade was then sent to the sinbin shortly after the break, Northampton were able to score again through George Furbank before a second from Sleightholme saw the away side hit the front for the first time.
Ross Vintcent had a try chalked off before Slade kicked a penalty to put the Chiefs into a single point lead but within two minutes, Sleightholme had completed his hat-trick – with Fin Smith adding the extras – to put Saints back in front.
As the game headed into the final ten minutes, there were twists still to come, first of all as a converted try from a Rus Tuima breakaway meant it was Exeter who regained the advantage as the game moved towards its conclusion.
However, huge pressure on the Exeter line ended with Rory Hutchinson scoring at the death, with Smith adding the conversion for good measure to give the Northampton victory by 42-36.
It means Exeter now sit fourth in the standings, with focus turning to the Investec Champions Cup next weekend and a home tie with Glasgow Warriors.