Match Report: Exeter Chiefs 36 – 42 Northampton Saints

Ollie Sleightholme scored a hat-trick of tries as Northampton Saints came from 26 points down to record a remarkable victory over Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park.

The men in Black, Green and Gold trailed 26-14 at the break after Exeter had raced into a four-try lead thanks to tries from Stu Townsend, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and a brace from Jacques Vermeulen – but two quick scores from the visitors through Callum Braley and Sleightholme cut the gap to 12.

Saints took the lead through a Sleightholme brace and one from George Furbank, before Henry Slade edged Exeter back ahead with a penalty. Sleightholme completed his treble before Rusi Tuima thought he had won the game for the hosts with a try seven minutes from time.

But with the clock in the red, Rory Hutchinson was the hero for Saints as he dotted over the line to snatch an incredible comeback victory.

FIRST HALF

From kick-off, the hosts were straight on the attack, and just over five minutes into the game they had the first try of the contest. Ethan Roots found space down the right wing and after Exeter found themselves camped on Saints’ line, Vermeulen barged his way over. 

Slade added the extras and the hosts continued to mount pressure, and 13 minutes in they grabbed their second try as, after Saints turned the ball over on their own line, a loose pass in the back-line handed possession back to Chiefs, and a looping pass out wide from Harvey Skinner found Feyi-Waboso to score in the corner.

Exeter built their lead further when a short lineout from Jack Yeandle ended up in the hands of scrum-half Townsend who cantered over untouched, with Slade adding the extras to make it 19-0.

Saints could not get a foothold, and when Vermeulen found a gap from close range for his second try of the game, with Slade adding his third successful kick of the contest, Phil Dowson’s side found themselves 26-0 down with only 24 minutes on the clock.

However, the visitors began to find their feet just before the half-hour mark, and when Dafydd Jenkins was yellow carded for a high shot on Furbank close to the Chiefs’ line, Saints were handed an opportunity. After a couple of phases, Braley marked his first start since March 2023 by sniping from the base of a ruck to score.

Fin Smith added two points, and moments later Saints had a second. From the kick-off, Furbank broke through the Exeter line and found Angus Scott-Young out wide who made it up to halfway. When the ball was then recycled, Furbank was involved again as he chipped over the top to Tom Lichfield who made it to the 22 before passing back inside to Sleightholme, who finished off a brilliant score. Smith knocked over the conversion and Saints were back in the game at 26-14 heading into the sheds.

SECOND HALF

Six minutes into the second half Exeter went back down 14 men when Slade saw yellow for a high shot on Burger Odendaal.

When Exeter were penalised for hands in the ruck, Smith kicked to the corner to give Saints the opportunity to close the gap. Replacement Tommy Freeman got within a couple of metres, before Alex Mitchell spun the ball wide to Furbank, who picked a gap and dived over the line for his fourth try in as many games.

Saints had their tails up as Smith landed his third conversion, and just before the hour mark they took the lead for the first time in the game. Mitchell found space around the side of a ruck on halfway, and made it up to the 22 before passing wide to Sleightholme who had a simple run in.

The hosts edged themselves back in front via a Slade penalty, but Northampton wrestled back the advantage with 16 minutes to play. The visitors found space as Freeman burst through the line, passing to Furbank who then found Sleightholme on the right wing who cantered over for the third hat-trick of his Saints career.

Exeter would not lie down, and with eight minutes to go Tuima finished off a sublime Chiefs move packed with offloads to go under the sticks. Slade’s conversion handed his side a one-point advantage, but there was still late drama to come.

With time not on their side, Hutchinson was found in space on the right wing and was brought down inches from the line. But while being pulled into touch, the Scotsman threw the ball into an Exeter player, earning his side a lineout and one last chance at victory.

Replacement Tom Pearson claimed the lineout and after Sleightholme came close with a burst, Saints spun the ball wide to Hutchinson who did just enough to dot the ball over the line.

Smith kicked yet another conversion while Northampton players and supporters celebrated a famous comeback win behind him, taking the final scoreline to 42-36.

The victory keeps Saints at the summit of the Gallagher Premiership table for at least another fortnight, with a return to the Investec Champions Cup next on the agenda for Phil Dowson’s side as Aviron Bayonnais travel to cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens next Friday evening.

LINE UPS

CHIEFS: 15 Tom Wyatt, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Ben Hammersley, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Stu Townsend; 1 Nika Abuladze, 2 Jack Yeandle, 3 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 4 Lewis Pearson, 5 Dafydd Jenkins (c), 6 Ethan Roots, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 8 Greg Fisilau
Replacements: 16 Norey, 17 Hepburn, 18 Painter, 19 Tuima, 20 Vincent, 21 Cairns, 22 Devoto, 23 Wimbush

SAINTS: 15 George Furbank, 14 Ollie Sleightholme 13 Burger Odendaal, 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 Tom Litchfield, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Callum Braley; 1 Tarek Haffar, 2 Sam Matavesi, 3 Trevor Davison, 4 Alex Moon, 5 Chunya Munga, 6 Alex Coles, 7 Angus Scott-Young, 8 Sam Graham
Replacements: 16 Langdon, 17 Iyogun, 18 Millar Mills, 19 Mayanavanua, 20 Pearson, 21 Mitchell, 22 Dingwall, 23 Freeman