Rob Baxter's Exeter Chiefs bounce back against second string Saints

Exeter Chiefs took advantage of Northampton’s decision to field a second-string line-up to record a morale-boosting 42-14 Gallagher Premiership victory.

They badly needed it after a record-breaking 79-17 loss in their last league outing at Gloucester, which resulted in director of rugby Rob Baxter returning to his former role as hands-on head coach.

Exeter began slowly but two tries in quick succession just before half-time calmed their nerves, although they were still far from convincing winners.

Paul Brown-Bampoe and Harvey Skinner both scored two tries, while Nick Lilley and Martin Moloney were also on the try-scoring sheet, with Henry Slade kicking five conversions and Josh Hodge adding one.

Jake Garside and Tom Lockett crossed over for the visitors, both of which Tom James converted.

Northampton included only one player – Tom Litchfield – in the starting line-up from their victory over Leinster last weekend, with six debutants in their match-day 23 as they rested their leading lights ahead of their appearance in the European Cup final in a fortnight’s time.

It came as no surprise that they conceded the first score when slick handling from Exeter’s three-quarters provided debutant wing Lilley with an easy run-in.

With their first real attack, Saints came close when Toby Cousins evaded Skinner’s tackle and looked set to score until an excellent chase back from player-of-the-match Brown-Bampoe hauled the wing down a few metres from the try-line.

Lilley’s converted try was the only score of a disjointed first quarter before Exeter suffered an injury blow when Australia prop Scott Sio was led off after receiving lengthy treatment.

Worse was to follow for Chiefs when first Will Rigg was yellow carded for a deliberate off-side before Garside immediately capitalised to bring the scores level.

It was then the visitors’ turn to lose their loose-head prop when Tom West departed in some discomfort to be replaced by Tarak Haffar.

Rigg returned from the sin-bin without any further damage to the scoreboard and in time to see Skinner pick off a telegraphed pass from James before running 50 metres to score.

Within two minutes, Exeter had another when space was skilfully created for Brown-Bampoe to score an excellent solo try, with Slade’s third conversion giving his side a scarcely-deserved 21-7 half-time lead.

Within three minutes of the restart, Lockett had reduced the arrears by forcing his way over from close-range before Exeter suffered a further blow when Rigg hobbled off.

The home side overcame this setback to score their bonus-point try when replacement Moloney took advantage of a Saints error from a scrum near their own line.

Bampoe-Brown and Skinner both scored their second tries in the dying stages to give Exeter a flattering final scoreline.