Crush Northampton

Burrell knocked on Sam Dickinson’s loose pass. Five-metre scrum to Exeter. The Chiefs pack got the shove on, Nowell made ground from first phase and then the forwards took over resulting in Armand being driven over.

Exeter’s second try was equally galling from a Northampton perspective.

Being awarded a penalty on the halfway line, Northampton opted to take the tap only to be turned over within a couple of phases.

Exeter went for the kill. Devoto made the initial incision. Then the ball came left where Woodburn’s attempted pass to Turner was knocked on by Ken Pisi, who was duly sin-binned. With the man advantage, Exeter kicked to the corner. Northampton held up the initial line-out drive but scrum-half Stuart Townsend darted down the unattended blindside and fed Woodburn, who dived for the corner.

By hook or by crook, Northampton saw out the rest of half, yet within two minutes of the restart, Exeter had their breathing space after Whitten slipped through Jamie Gibson’s tackle.

Nowell registered the bonus-point try, twisting away from Juan-Pablo Estelles to ground the ball on the second attempt. Replacement centre Hill scored the try of the day, cutting a great line through the Northampton midfield before scorching past Ben Foden while Nowell turned provider for Woodburn to score his second. Northampton registered the final score through Ashee Tuala but they were either too exhausted or too ashamed to muster any form of celebration.