A last-minute try by England fly-half Fin Smith saw Northampton Saints snatch a thrilling 35-28 victory over Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park on Saturday.
The reverse fixture on the opening day of the season finished 33-33 and this game looked to be heading for another draw when replacement winger Paul Brown-Bampoe scored a charge-down try in the 78th minute, converted by Henry Slade.
But the Saints were not to be denied. A beautiful dummy by Smith saw him coast over the line to break Chiefs’ hearts and secure a 35-28 win for the Premiership leaders.
“We stuck at it again in what was another proper game,” Northampton’s director of rugby, Paul Dowson, said. “It’s fine margins, but I like the way we carried on playing, carrying that pressure and having that belief we could get over. We’ve got a lot of trust in our attacking system and we have that intent to go and try and score – and I think we’re good at it. The belief to continue to play despite being under pressure was excellent.”
Exeter got off to a dream start with a try after only 82 seconds from England flyer Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, after an initial incision by fellow winger Campbell Ridl created a two-on-one overlap. Five minutes later, the hosts doubled their lead, with centre Will Rigg finishing off a five-metre tap penalty, Slade adding the extras.
Northampton bounced back, with try-saving tackles from Stephen Varney and Ridl denying Saints duo Josh Kemeny and Ollie Sleightholme respectively. The visitors found a foothold when George Hendy and Tom Litchfield combined to set up England scrum-half Alex Mitchell for a well-crafted try. Sleightholme crossed just before half-time and both sides went in level at 14-14.
A cagey second half followed until the Chiefs edged ahead just before the hour with Ridl’s fifth Premiership try of the season, Slade executing a superb touchline conversion. The late Brown-Bampoe score appeared to have secured a draw, but Smith’s finishing touch ensured victory for Northampton.
Bath run riot as Harlequins woes continue
Santi Carreras ran in two tries as Bath romped to a 48-15 victory against Harlequins at The Recreation Ground. The 64-cap Argentina international, who started at full-back and finished at fly-half, also kicked a conversion as Bath scored eight tries to reinforce their second place in the Premiership table.
Their title defence now moves on to next Saturday’s clash with table-topping Northampton. Harlequins stayed competitive until well into the second half despite their growing injury list, but Bath were forced into a late change when captain Ben Spencer withdrew with a sore shoulder and Tom Carr-Smith came on from the bench.
Quins remain ninth in the standings, while Bath’s bonus-point win trims Johann van Graan’s side to within a single point of leaders Northampton.
Hamer-Webb stars as Leicester thump Newcastle
Gabriel Hamer-Webb was ecstatic after touching down five times as Leicester enhanced their Premiership charge with a 62-3 rout of Newcastle at Welford Road. Hamer-Webb and his team-mates notched 10 tries in the club’s 5000th game, celebrating in emphatic style.
The crushing bonus-point win ramped up Leicester’s pressure in the battle for play-off spots. Former Newcastle players Jamie Blamire and Adam Radwan also scored braces. Hamer-Webb, denied a potential record-equalling sixth try by a foot-in-touch call at the death, said: “My previous best was a hat-trick, so this is special. All I had to do was get on the end of everything. I had to thank the other boys who helped me do it. Obviously, the sixth one, which got away, will be in my nightmares tonight, and it’s £100 coming out of my pocket. I’m finding my feet and the confidence is there. Going away with Wales has really helped push that. Seeing the international standard of how to do things and coming back here to carry on that. Being around the likes of Ollie Chessum, JVP [Jack van Poortvliet] and Freddie Steward too, who set such high standards.”