CHIEFS SHOW WHO’S BOSS
ROB BAXTER believes a visit from European champions Saracens brought the best out of Exeter.
The table-topping Chiefs moved seven points clear in defence of their title with five regular-season games to go.
“I’m pleased for the players,” said boss Baxter.
“They want to do well and perform well, and I thought the challenge of Saracens coming here really brought the best out of us. “We thrived on the pressure that a two-point lead going into the wind in the second-half created.”
Exeter fly-half Joe Simmonds kicked four penalties and provided a key assist for Phil Dollman’s try.
The Chiefs’ superior scrum was rewarded with a second-half penalty try, while Ben Earl and Marcelo Bosch both crossed for Saracens. P W D L F A B Pts Exeter 17 12 0 5 432 285 13 61 Wasps 17 11 1 5 468 391 8 54 Saracens 17 11 0 6 490 294 9 53 Newcastle 17 11 0 6 335 365 6 50 Leicester 17 10 0 7 408 373 7 47 Gloucester 17 9 1 7 378 408 8 46 Bath 17 9 0 8 423 397 9 45 Sale 17 8 0 9 408 375 11 43 Harlequins 17 7 0 10 424 459 8 36 N’hampton 17 6 0 11 386 476 7 31 Worcester 17 5 0 12 297 455 7 27 Ldn Irish 17 2 0 15 283 454 7 15 TOM CRUSE’S 76th-minute charge-down try enabled Wasps to seal a nervy win.
Wasps claimed three tries to the visitors’ two, but Irish produced a spirited secondhalf display, coming from 14-0 down to trail by a point.
But Dai Young’s team climbed into second place.
HARLEQUINS director of rugby John Kingston hailed his side’s first Premiership victory of 2018.
Tries from Tim Visser and Kyle Sinckler ended their four-match losing streak.
Kingston said: “There’s pride and some relief.”