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The Prem: Exeter 28-35 Northampton: Saints grab dramatic late win at Chiefs
Fin Smith's try with five seconds to go saw Prem leaders Northampton beat Exeter 35-28 at Sandy Park.
Saints took advantage as Exeter finished the game with 14 men after two yellow cards to consolidate their place at the top of the table.
Exeter led 14-7 after a breathless first 15 minutes as Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Will Rigg's tries were pegged back by an Alex Mitchell score.
Northampton gradually imposed themselves on the game and finally levelled just before half-time through Ollie Sleightholme.
Exeter's second-half pressure was finally rewarded when Campbell Ridl scored their third try with 21 minutes to go.
The momentum changed moments later when Feyi-Waboso was sin-binned, and within a minute George Furbank had made it 21-21.
Fin Smith’s last-gasp try breaks Exeter hearts and wins thriller for Northampton
Spring is here, the pitches are firming up and the playoff race is intensifying. As dramatic finishes go this was right up there with both Northampton and Exeter believing they had the game won at different moments. In the end the decisive thrust came from the Saints via a last-minute try from the England fly-half Fin Smith which kept the Prem leaders on track for a home semi-final
It had seemed that a 77th minute try from the Chiefsâ replacement Paul Brown-Bampoe, magnificently converted from wide out by Henry Slade, would ensure three points for both teams. Instead Smith came scampering left past a couple of tired would-be Chiefs tacklers and had the pace and nerve to skip past both for a hugely valuable score.
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Rob Baxter battles with 'temptation' as 'desperate' Len Ikitau makes timely return along with England snub
Len Ikitau (left) and Ethan Roots (right) are nearing a return to full fitness, Rob Baxter has confirmed
Exeter Chiefs look set to welcome back Wallabies star Len Ikitau and England international Ethan Roots sooner rather than later, director of rugby Rob Baxter has teased.
The pair have been sidelined for a large chunk of Exeter’s season, with Ikitau’s last outing coming against Saracens back in December while Roots has been out since February, but both appear to be making a timely return to full fitness as the Chiefs mount a concentrated march towards PREM and EPCR Challenge Cup success.
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