Northampton Saints
News: Last minute try at Exeter puts Saints top
By Wilma
February 9 2014
Exeter at Sandy Park is always a tough match. Even moreso with a 7pm Kick off and wind and rain frezing and soaking players and supporters alike. Wilma stayed on the sofa for this one, and was therefore able to produce a report unconstrained by rain, wind and a poor viewing angle!
Aviva Premiership Round 13
Exeter Chiefs v Northampton Saints
Sandy Park, Saturday 8th February, KO 7pm
I hate missing away games but this was one that was just too far away and too close to Christmas for us to justify the journey down to Exeter. I really wouldn’t have relished the walk across the wibbly wobbly bridge in the winds that were predicted to reach 70 mph gusts.
Saints won the toss and elected to play into the wind, or rather the howling gale, in the 1st half. They set out their stall early, stealing the first line out allowing Fotuali’i to combine with Ken Pisi and Dowson to make the break. This particular move led to nothing but the pace and offloading in the tackle were to be seen throughout the game.
With only 6 minutes on the clock, Ashley Rowden , the TMO for the game, requested to look at some foul play he had seen earlier, resulting in Mumm being yellow-carded for stamping on Dickinsons leg at the bottom of a ruck. It could be argued that Dickinson had no right being there but two wrongs don’t make a right.
Saints were giving away too many of their own penalties though in the next few minutes, both from Alex Waller. One for a high tackle on Steenson, duly converted for the 3 points and one from dropping the scrum. Steenson missed that one.
With only 2 minutes left on the sin bin and despite some deft footwork from Elliott, Saints had yet to get any points on the board. After Exeter were penalised for being off-side, Myler kicked to the corner. The resultant maul from the line out saw the ball thrown wide one way and then back again with Saints men over. Manoa offloaded to Wilson who forced his way over the line for the 5
points. It’s a bit too close to the touchline and far too windy for Myler to maintain his excellent kicking stats this year and the score remained at 3 – 5.
With 25 minutes of the game gone, BT Sport interview Rob Baxter and he is full of compliments for Saints and knows exactly what he has to tell his team at half time.
Saints are winning the battle of the scrum on the whole and the line-out is functioning well but the latter is to take a blow with Day going off at the 30 minute mark clutching his calf. He is replaced by GJ Van Velze, Clarke stepping up to fill the lock position.
Saints give away another couple of penalties – the first one unconverted by Chiefs and the second one rather harshly given as subsequent replays show that Fotuali’i didn’t touch Lewis until he had his hands on the ball. Steenson converts this one to take the score to 6 – 5 with 33 minutes gone.
However, at the restart, Exeter ‘s Horstmann doesn’t take the ball too cleanly and it shoots out of the back of the ruck with Saints pouncing on it. Fotuali’i to Haywood to Manoa sees the big American go over in the corner. No conversion and the score stayed at 6 – 10.
Exeter start to pound the Saints try line after the restart. Nine phases of play eventually come to an end with Ma’afu penalised for a high tackle on Steenson which is right in front of the sticks. A straightforward conversion and the score is 9 – 10 at half time.
The second half and it’s obvious that Rob Baxter has given his lads a right good talking to. They hold onto the ball and fight their way out of their own half with 16 phases of play taking them up to the halfway line. Lewis tries to take a quick tap and go when Saints give away yet another penalty and Greg Garner deems GJ Van Velze steps in Lewis’ way and he promptly bins Van Velze. In the ensuing play Waldouck fills in for Van Velze in the scrum very successfully, but the line out is not faring so well without Day – 2 are lost in succession. Saints only need to keep it simple whilst the sin bin period is seen out but a fancy dan offload by Wilson round his back is intercepted by Whitten and he gallops off towards the try line, brought down with about 10 metres to go by Ken Pisi. Eventually though Ewers is bundled over the try line but it’s not given and an earlier penalty is kicked to the corner. Lewis peels off the back of the maul which results from the line out and he takes the 5 points putting Exeter back in the lead. Lewis’ reward? He’s allowed to get down on the ground to steady the ball for Steensons conversion. 16 – 10 with 53 minutes gone.
Cowan-Dickie made his premiership debut on 61 minutes which is a little surprising considering how well he has been seen to play for his age group England side. By now it’s raining and the play is largely taking place between the two 22’s. Mumm & Lewis are replaced a few minutes later which is rather puzzling considering Mumm is captain and Lewis has been playing out of his skin. Perhaps the intention was just to close the game out. But Saints had no intention of letting that happen. A cry of YES from the bottom of a ruck at the try line, Haywood emerged from the bottom only for the TMO to rule he can’t give the try.
Two scrums and two penalties, Garner warns Exeter. The third scrum pops and the fourth scrum with Saints put in, the ball goes loose and Exeter pounce, kicking it to touch. A quickly taken throw in and Saints are back at the try line. Myler’s chip through is taken over and another scrum for Saints who, by now, have an all new front row keeping up the excellent scrummaging seen throughout. A couple of phases later and George Pisi finds the gap to go over crucially close to the sticks to make an easier 
conversion for Myler. 16 – 17 with 2 minutes left to play.
A knock on by Dowson at the restart gives Exeter hope. However, after various phases, Johnston eventually knocks on, Ken Pisi gathering it up and kicking it out. Game over.
George Pisi is named MOTM although, personally, it was Fotuali’I for me. This win gave Saints a new club record of 8 consecutive premiership wins and none of them were more hard fought than this one. A gripping, tenacious game. Too close for comfort.
Jim Says..... (with a grin!)
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon09/02/2014 21:50
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
Once a scrum half .... always a scrum half
More Northampton Saints headlines
- End of season how the squad was used analysis
- This weeks rugby 1st - 5th July
- Weekend Rugby 27th/28th June
- Weekend Rugby 19th - 20th June 2026
- Weekend Rugby 12th - 14th June 2026
- Weekend Rugby 5th - 7th June 2026
- Weekend Rugby 29th - 31st May 20206
- Weekend Rugby 22nd - 23rd May 2026
- Weekend Rugby 15th - 17th May 2026