Chiefs lick their wounds as Saints go marching home

As Northampton Saints marched back up the motorway, Exeter Chiefs were left licking their wounds as their unbeaten home record in the Aviva Premiership was taken from them by Jim Mallinder’s men (Exeter Chief 19: Northampton Saints 30).

Tries from Ken Pisi, Soane Tonga’uiha and Gerrit-Jan van Velze not only steered the visitors to victory and fourth place in the league, but also enabled the Midlanders to claim a seasonal double over the Chiefs.

Fly-half Stephen Myler weighed in with the remainder of Northampton’s bounty, courtesy of three conversions and three penalties, but for the Chiefs it was a disappointing start to 2013.

Leading points-scorer Gareth Steenson notched four penalties for the home side, whilst Sireli Naqelevuki crossed for a converted second half try. However, it was never enough to dent the streetwise Saints and means the Chiefs have not won in their last three Premiership fixtures.

Having been denied all four points during the dying embers of their clash with Bath, the Chiefs made six changes in personnel for the visit of the Saints. Five of them came in the pack where Ben Moon, Neil Clark, James Hanks Tom Johnson and Ben White were all included; whilst behind Ian Whitten was drafted into the midfield in place of Jason Shoemark.

Likewise, the Saints – who came into the game a place and a point ahead of their Devon hosts in the current standings – also made a handful of changes with Tonga’uiha, Paul Doran Jones, Mark Sorenson and Calum Clark afforded the opportunity from running out at the start.

One of Exeter’s strengths is their fighting spirit and with Steenson landing a fourth successful kick on 48 minutes, the chance was there for them to finally take hold of the contest by the scruff of the neck. Sadly they could not capitalise as chances came and went with a growing regularity.

Unforced errors, the odd needless penalty, plus some on-field indecision-making meant that although they threatened the visiting line, far too often the Saints could contain them, before eventually easing the pressure. 

A month of Cup action – both in Europe and domestically – now beckons for the Chiefs, who will then return to a top flight date with struggling Sale Sharks in Salford.

Already the countdown to kick-off has begun for that encounter.

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Clermont Auvergne (A), Heineken Cup, Saturday, January 12 (7pm)

For the full match report by Mark Stevens visit http://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/chiefs-19-saints-30/