Exeter end Saracens era as England star makes statement to Borthwick

Henry Slade led the way as Exeter emerged emphatic 32-12 winners from their grudge match against Saracens to secure a Gallagher Prem play-off against Bath.

Slade ran in the crucial 47th-minute try that placed the Chiefs in a commanding position and also landed three conversions and two penalties, with Max Norey and Andrea Zambonin and Stephen Varney touching down too.

The classy England centre inspired Exeter’s fightback after they had spent the second quarter of the shootout for a semi-final place under heavy pressure before coming alive to end to Saracens’ five-match winning run.

Even without England star Immanuel Feyi-Waboso because of a facial injury they were comfortably the better side on a blustery day at Sandy Park to claim bragging rights against their fierce rivals.

They finish the regular season in third place and now meet Bath at the Recreation Ground on Saturday for a place in the final.

The defeat signalled the conclusion of Mark McCall’s trophy-laden 15-year reign as Saracens director of rugby with the former Ireland centre stepping down at the end of the season.

The lingering bad blood from the clubs’ rivalry of the mid to late 2010s was evident when the visitors were booed on to the field.

They were treated more kindly when play got underway, however, with Exeter’s line-out malfunctioning immediately before Harvey Skinner kicked a 22 drop-out straight into touch.

Skinner’s error provided the scrum for Saracens to eventually score the opening try in the eighth minute with Tobias Elliot strolling across the line after the home defence had been over-stretched.

The Chiefs’ line-out struggles continued but they were off the mark when Slade landed a long-range penalty and there were further wins with Josh Iosefa-Scott winning a turnover and a big break from Len Ikitau.

Playing into the wind, Saracens were beginning to take a stranglehold on the game and after dropping successive balls in attack, they had a try disallowed for Rotimi Segun spilling the ball over the line.

For all their visits to Exeter’s 22, they failed to score any points and deep into first-half overtime they paid the price as they were unlocked by a short-range line-out that produced a try for Norey.

Adding to their woes, Charlie Bracken had been sent to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock on.

Exeter led for the first time and they struck again early in the second-half, this time off turnover ball with Slade starting and finishing a move that also involved Campbell Ridl and Olly Woodburn.

The Chiefs were cruising as they stormed into enemy territory once again, Slade kicked his second penalty and then Fergus Burke sent the restart straight into touch.

Saracens were reeling, no longer able to make a dent on Exeter, and the killer blow came when Zambonin burrowed over from close range following a scrum penalty.

Nick Isiekwe and Varney touched down in the final 10 minutes but Exeter fans had already begun celebrating their passing into the play-offs.