Chiefs boss sorry Sarries as run ends

Exeter 31 Saracens

13

BOSS Mark Mccall admitted Saracens were second best after their 22-game unbeaten run came to a grinding halt.

The bonus-point victory took Exeter back to the top of the table and three points above their visitors, who had not lost since a European Champions Cup defeat by Leinster on April 1.

It was Saracens’ first Premiership reversal for more than nine months – when Exeter beat them in Devon.

“We were well beaten today, and beaten in most areas, really,” said rugby director Mccall (below). “After a good start, we were good for 15 or 20 minutes and had a lot of control of field position and possession and probably could have been more than 6-0 up.

“But thereafter, we allowed a lot of things to mount, mistakes in the back-field, avoidable penalties, and a couple of setpieces in there too when the score was 6-0. We piled pressure on ourselves. It was a very disappointing performance.”

Saracens lost skipper Brad Barritt to concussion in the first half, flanker Michael Rhodes suffered a shoulder injury and Schalk Burger was sin-binned during the closing minutes.

Luke Cowan-dickie and Harry Williams crossed for Exeter, who were awarded a penalty try 12 minutes from time before No.8 Matt Kvesic’s touchdown secured a five-point maximum.

Two Owen Farrell penalties put Sarries 6-0 ahead midway through the first half, but they did not score again until Ben Spencer’s 76th-minute consolation try.