Exeter Chiefs boost semi-final hopes with victory over indisciplined Northampton
Sunday 12 April 2015 17:33, UK
Exeter moved back into the Aviva Premiership's top four courtesy of a 21-10 victory over league leaders Northampton at Sandy Park.
The sides were evenly matched at the break after Henry Slade had put the Chiefs in front with a penalty, while full-backs Phil Dollman and James Wilson exchanged unconverted tries.
The pace increased in the second half with Slade adding two penalties and the conversion of a penalty try, with the Saints having to settle for a late consolation try from Jamie Elliott.
The reigning champions had Calum Clark, Stephen Myler and Alex Waller sin-binned, while the Chiefs managed to keep their opponents scoreless while captain Dean Mumm was sin-binned midway through the first half.
After having nothing to show for a period of early pressure, Northampton fell behind on 10 minutes when Slade kicked a 25-metre penalty, and Exeter added a try seven minutes later when Dollman sold two dummies before crossing the whitewash.
The Chiefs then had Mumm sent to the sin-bin for collapsing a scrum and the Saints pounded the opposition line as they tried to make their numerical advantage count.
Exeter managed to keep the Saints at bay but their defence was breached on 32 minutes when the TMO ruled that Wilson had grounded the ball in the corner.
Clark was the first Northampton player to be carded on 35 minutes, and Myler joined him in the bin shortly after the restart as Slade added the resultant penalty.
The Exeter forwards then showed their dominance in the scrum, forcing the Saints to collapse and referee Wayne Barnes had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try which Slade duly converted to give the Chiefs a 13-point advantage.
Saints then lost replacement prop Waller after conceding three scrum penalties, and Mumm had a tried ruled out by the TMO before eventually settling for three points from the boot of Slade.
The Saints kept pressing as the clock ticked down and were finally rewarded with a try in the corner from wing Elliott, but it was little reward.
