Rare joy at Sandy Park for Exeter Chiefs

The bright spots have been few and far between for Exeter Chiefs this season, which made the inspired late rally to defeat Saracens 31-22 at Sandy Park even more enjoyable.

Seeking just their second league win of the campaign, the Chiefs edged in front against a Saracens team depleted by injury and international call-ups, Jack Innard bundling over from a five-metre scrum.

Winger Tobias Elliott dived over in the corner in a positive response for the visitors, who led 5-8 at the interval, and the game remained tight in the early exchanges of the second period. Harvey Skinner fizzed a lovely pass wide for Will Rigg to score for Exeter, Elliott quickly pounced on a handling error to restore the slender Sarries lead.

Suddenly, the game burst into life, and the Chiefs found some scintillating form. A surging run from in-form Paul Brown-Bampoe created room for Tommy Wyatt to give Exeter the lead, and they consolidated that advantage with Dan Frost feeding Ethan Roots for the fourth home try.

A red card for Harry Wilson sealed Sarries’ fate and Frost thoroughly deserved his try from a maul. Eroni Mawi did score a late consolation for the visitors but a day that belonged to Exeter Chiefs.