Match report: Northampton Saints 33-33 Exeter Chiefs

In a tale of two halves, Exeter Chiefs secured a second half comeback to draw 33-33 with Northampton Saints at cinch stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.

Running into half-time trailing 33-7, Chiefs returned to the field with renewed purpose, holding their hosts scoreless in the second half as they chased down the scoreline.

As if he had scripted it, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso put the stamp on his return to the PREM opening the afternoon’s scoring after three minutes. Taking a pop pass off the shoulder, the winger carved through the 22 and swan-dived over the line for five points.

His England compatriot Henry Slade, wearing the captain’s armband in Ethan Roots’ absence, slotted the conversion.

Alex Coles responded for the hosts. Working off a lineout five metres out, Angus Scott-Young peeled off the rear but was well met in contact by Will Goodrick-Clarke. Saints recycled, Coles taking the ball on a pivot and crashing over.

The conversion from Anthony Belleau put the two sides level on seven points apiece.

George Hendy tearing down centre-field set the platform for Saints’ second. A two-on-one was created on Paul Brown-Bampoe but the Exeter man chose the correct tackle. He could only hold Saints up for so long and quick ball to the wing put Tom Pearson over for the try.

A third quickly followed as debutant Edoardo Todaro scored in the same corner as Pearson. With the extras added by Belleau, Saints were 19-7 in the lead.

Litchfield took the ball and broke from the Chiefs’ 10-metre line to secure the bonus point for the hosts before Todaro snagged himself a brace-score as the half came to its end. Belleau’s conversion ensured a comeback from Chiefs was two-points tougher.

Half-time: Saints 33 – 7 Chiefs

Chiefs chipped into the score deficit two minutes into the second half. Attacking on the edge of the Saints 22, Stephen Varney put a grubber ball through for Brown-Bampoe to run onto. He collected cleanly for the try, but Slade’s conversion attempt rebounded off the upright.

The tide wasn’t always in their favour, but Chiefs had another when Andrea Zambonin threw himself into contact in the 22 to absorb a hit which opened a gap for Josh Hodge to run into.

The Chiefs full-back canter-stepped a would-be tackler to find Ross Vintcent on his support line for the pass which sealed the try beneath the posts. Slade took the simple conversion.

There was a kiss on the cheek for Vintcent from his club-captain when a play straight off the training pitch was executed to perfection for Chiefs’ bonus-point score. Jack Yeandle went quickly to Vintcent with a pump pass at the lineout and before the defence could properly set, the back-rower was inches from the line and could not be stopped.

Slade’s conversion made it a seven-point game.

Just a minute later, Chiefs had the game-tying score. Collecting a box kick, Slade moved his side at pace out of their own half. A strong carry from Harvey Skinner drew in the scrambling defence and with an offload on the 10-metre line, Feyi-Waboso was released for the run-in.

Slade’s conversion took play to 33-33 and the atmosphere of the stadium ratcheted up multiple notches.

Chiefs were reduced to 14 men with eight minutes left on the clock however, Hodge shown a red card for a dangerous tackle on Saints replacement Sam Graham. The Northampton man received medical attention before walking from the field.

A frantic closing stage of play included a possible Slade try being ruled out for a forward pass. Ultimately, both sides were able to hang on for a draw, something which Rob Baxter said he was proud of his men for fighting for.

Chiefs now face a short turnaround into Newcastle Red Bulls at Sandy Park next Saturday afternoon.

Full-time: Saints 33 – 33 Chiefs

Saints: G Hendy; E Todaro, T Litchfield (Hutchinson 61’), F Dingwall (c), J Ramm; A Belleau, A MacParland; E Iyogun (Fischetti 40’), C Wright (Walker 4’), T Davison (Millar-Mills 21’), A Coles, E Prowse (van der Mescht 54’), A Scott-Young (Graham 16’, Scott-Young 20’), T Pearson, C Chick (Graham 68’, Chick 72’).

Replacements: Weimann, Thame

Tries: Coles, Pearson, Todaro 2, Litchfield Conversions: Belleau 4

Chiefs: J Hodge; I Feyi-Waboso (Lilley 69’), H Slade (c), B Hammersley, P Brown-Bampoe; H Skinner, S Varney (Chapman 75’); W Goodrick-Clarke (Blose 58’), J Dweba (Yeandle 58’), J Iosefa-Scott (Tchumbadze 58’), R Tuima (Zambonin 43’), L Pearson, C Tshiunza (Jenkins 40’), G Fisilau (Vintcent 73’), R Vintcent (James 71’).

Tries: Feyi-Waboso 2, Brown-Bampoe, Vintcent 2 Conversions: Slade 4

Red card: Josh Hodge

Referee: Joe James