Exeter go top with dramatic late win at Saracens

The Prem.

Saracens (12) 24

Tries: Malins and Farrell; Penalty Cons:

Exeter (13) 30

Exeter defeated Saracens at StoneX Stadium to win the Prem title, scoring three late tries in a stunning comeback.

In the final moments of a pulsating match, Henry Slade ran in a try after two Greg Fisilau scores had already squandered an 11-point lead.

After Noah Caluori and Max Malins scored try through Stephen Varney’s try, the Chiefs had a thin one-point lead at the break.

Sarries were on pace for their fourth win of the season with a second from Caluori and a penalty try.

In place of Lucio Cinti, Saracens made a late substitution by adding Olly Hartley, who had not previously been named in the squad.

Theo Dan set up Malins in the corner at the conclusion of a successful line-out routine, and it was the hosts who made the better start. Caluori instinctively picked off a loose pass from Slade and ran through unchallenged.

Tom Hooper was taken to the sin-bin for a tackle where he made contact with Dan’s knee, which only made things worse. Referee Luke Pearce was unable to issue a 20-minute red card because the initial contact was with the thigh.

After a protracted TMO review, the Chiefs kept fighting and hit the front despite the numerical disadvantage.

Ivan van Zyl let the Exeter boxkick go over his head, and Campbell Ridl and Caluori won a 50-to-50 game.

Before Ridl took control and set up Varney for an easy finish, replays were unsure whether the ball touched his hand during the process, which caused him to fall and hit him in the face.

A deliberate knock-on that cut out Hartley’s pass and denied Caluori a second score marked Ridl’s Prem debut, and Sarries received the penalty try to retake the lead, was the highlight of Sarries’ Prem debut.

After Malins’ excellent play on the other side, Caluori eventually scored the second try that his performance deserved when he headed over to Elliot Daly, who found his wing with a high, looping pass before Caluori dived into the corner with his final play of the match.

The final try from Fisilau was the best, which meant the grandstand was complete.

He first sprinted over a maul before weaving his way through to give the Chiefs a point lead.

Before Farrell missed a penalty attempt that would have given the Men in Black a commanding lead, Exeter fought back after the hosts’ strong defense held the ball up on the line.

Replacements: George, Mawi, Riccioni, Wilson, Onyeama-Christie, C Bracken, Burke, and Segun

Exeter: Woodburn, Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Ikitau, Ridl, Skinner, Varney, Goodrick-Clarke, Yeandle, Tchumbadze, Jenkins, Zambonin, Hooper, Roots, Fisilau,

Replacements: Rigg, Sio, Roots, Pearson, James, Chapman, Haydon-Wood, and Heaven.

Sin-bin: Hooper]27], Ridl]45]