Saracens condemn Chiefs to more away-day misery
When the ‘Fat Lady’ or should that be ‘Fat Bloke’ sang with a minute to go, that – I suppose – summed up the ‘Saracens Show’ (Saracens 31 : Chiefs 11).
Often the pioneers of all things new in the Aviva Premiership, Mark McCall’s side gave their new 4G surface at Allianz Park the perfect opening night as they condemned visiting Exeter Chiefs to more away-day misery.
The Chiefs, who only trailed 7-3 at the break, countered with two penalties from fly-half Gareth Steenson and a late Richard Baxter try. However, it hardly dented the hosts, who clearly were in party mood.
The Chiefs started slowly, as they survived two early scares inside the opening five minutes. Hodgson’s charge down of an intended Steenson clearance sounded the first alarm bell, before the former England international then pulled a penalty wide of the mark after Chiefs prop Hoani Tui had been pulled up by referee Martin Fox at a scrum deep inside his own 22.
The Chiefs, however, were soon back on track and could themselves have taken the lead when they won a penalty on 12 minutes after Luke Arscott’s clever grubber kick was followed up by team-mate Ian Whitten, who wrestled home full-back Ben Ransom to the floor before winning the turnover.
Sadly, the normally deadly Steenson was unable to capitalise on the indiscretion as he pulled his kick from the left touchline wide of the mark. The kicking curse was turning into somewhat of an epidemic as twice more Hodgson fired wide of the mark after Sarries twice won kickable penalty chances, the latter of which saw Chiefs full-back Arscott dispatched to the sin-bin for a professional foul.
With little to choose between either side in a frenetic tussle, it was the Devonians who finally broke the deadlock when Steenson atoned for his earlier miss when he slotted between the uprights following good approach working involving Jack Nowell and Damian Welch.
Exeter’s advantage would prove short-lived as just before the break Saracens struck with deadly intent for their opening try just past the half-hour mark.
With the very last action of the half, more good attacking from the Chiefs won them another decent penalty shot. On this occasion, marksman Steenson fired wide from just outside the home 22.
The Chiefs did well to hold the threat in the second half, but eventually their defensive wall began to crumble and with it came a flurry of points for the home side.
As Saracens continued to surge forward in search of the all-important bonus point, the Chiefs rallied valiantly in defence to thwart their advances. Again they held firm for a sustained period, but the Sarries attacking waves had soon become a tsunami.
To their credit, Rob Baxter’s side showed their own fighting spirit in the dying embers, picking themselves up off the floor to claim a consolation score of their own through long-serving forward Richard Baxter, who burrowed over from a close-range ruck to score his 126th try in Exeter colours.
It at least gave the travelling Tribe something to shout about, that was until the home side unveiled their own drag act for an unnecessary rendition of Nessum Dorma with just two minutes remaining.
Although it was well received with a standing ovation from much of the near 10,000 crowd, the disrespectful tone left a bitter taste in the mouths of those from the Westcountry, who must now ready themselves for a crunch date against league newcomers London Welsh a week from today.
UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v London Welsh (H), Aviva Premiership, Saturday, February 23 (3pm). To book tickets click here.
For Mark Stephens' full report click here.
Pictures: Exeter Rugby Club / Pinnacle Photo Agency
