Exeter Chiefs showcased their dominance with a resounding 42-14 victory over a youthful Northampton Saints side in a scrappy yet thrilling Gallagher Premiership clash at Sandy Park. The match, held on May 11, 2025, saw both teams fielding younger players, with the Chiefs ultimately securing their fourth league win of the season.

Key Moments

• Nick Lilley made a memorable debut for the Chiefs, scoring the opening try. Jake Garside responded swiftly for the Saints, capitalizing on a gap in the defense.
• Harvey Skinner and Paul Brown-Bampoe added crucial tries before halftime, giving the Chiefs a significant lead.
• Tom Lockett reduced the deficit for the Saints early in the second half, but Martin Moloney's opportunistic try sealed the game for Exeter.
• Brown-Bampoe and Skinner added late tries, adding gloss to the scoreline and securing a bonus point for the Chiefs.

Post-Match Reactions

Rob Baxter, Exeter Chiefs' director of rugby, expressed his frustration despite the win, emphasizing the need for improvement in basic skills and decision-making. "I was fuming, absolutely fuming," Baxter told BBC Radio Devon. "We need to grow up a bit and cut out the poor basics."

Phil Dowson, Northampton Saints' director of rugby, praised his team's effort but acknowledged the need for better execution. "The two tries before half-time obviously hurt," Dowson said. "We need to make them work harder for those scores."

Team Lineups

Exeter Chiefs: Hodge; Lilley, Slade, Rigg, Brown-Bampoe; Skinner, Townsend; Sio, Yeandle, Street, Tuima, Jenkins, Vermuelen, Capstick, Roots.

Northampton Saints: Garside; Cousins, Seabrook, Litchfield, Glister; James, Weimann; West, Walker, Millar Mills, Prowse, Munga, Lockett, Brown, Scott-Young.

Match Statistics

• Tries: Exeter Chiefs 6 (Lilley, Skinner 2, Brown-Bampoe 2, Moloney), Northampton Saints 2 (Garside, Lockett)
• Conversions: Exeter Chiefs 5 (Slade 5, Hodge), Northampton Saints 2 (James 2)

Conclusion

The result leaves the Chiefs in ninth place in the Premiership, 12 points behind the eighth-placed Saints, who now focus solely on the Champions Cup. Despite the scrappy nature of the game, both teams provided valuable experience to their younger players, setting the stage for future encounters.