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 afternoon.
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 victory. 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 helped create 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 kicked the extras.
Northampton bounced back, with try-saving tackles from Stephen Varney and Ridl denying Saints duo Josh Kemeny and Ollie Sleightholme touchdowns respectively in the space of five minutes.
The visitors, however, could not be denied a foothold in the game for long, with George Hendy and Tom Litchfield combining to set up England scrum-half Alex Mitchell for a beautifully crafted try. Sleightholme crossed the whitewash for the Saints just before half-time, with both sides heading into the changing rooms locked at 14-14.
A cagey second-half followed, until the Chiefs got their noses back in front just before the hour mark with a fifth Premiership try of the season for Ridl, with Slade executing the touchline conversion with aplomb.
Bath run riot as Harlequins woes continue
Santi Carreras ran in two tries to lead Bath to a runaway 48-15 victory against Harlequins at The Recreation Ground on Saturday.
The 64-cap Argentina international, who started the game at full-back and finished at fly-half, also kicked a conversion as Bath ran in eight tries to reinforce their second place in the Premiership table.
Their defence of the title now moves on to next Saturday and a clash with table-topping Northampton.
Harlequins did not submit as easily as the scoreline suggests, staying in the game until well into the second half.
All the punditry beforehand was of their lengthening injury list, but it was Bath who had to make a late change when captain Ben Spencer pulled out with a sore shoulder. Tom Carr-Smith stepped up from the bench.
Quins will remain ninth in the league standings, while Bath’s bonus point victory sees Johann van Graan’s side trim the gap between themselves and league leaders Northampton to a slender one-point gap.
Hamer-Webb stars as Leicester thump Newcastle
Gabriel Hamer-Webb was thrilled with his five-star show, as Leicester enhanced their Premiership Rugby charge with a thumping 62-3 victory over Newcastle at Welford Road.
The wing, who touched down five times during the match, and his title-chasing team-mates notched 10 tries and made hay in the east Midlands sun to celebrate the 5000th game of their illustrious 146-year club history in scintillating fashion.
A crushing bonus-point win helped Leicester turn up the pressure in the battle for the play-off spots. Former Newcastle men Jamie Blamire and Adam Radwan were also on the mark with a brace of tries.
Hamer-Webb, who had a potential Premiership record-equalling sixth try ruled out for a foot in touch at the death, enthused: “My previous best was a hat-trick, so this is special.
Leicester Tigers secured a 62-3 victory over Newcastle at Welford Road on Saturday
“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.”
