Premiership: Northampton 8-3 Exeter
It was Exeter's first defeat in the Premiership since their loss
to Bath on 17 October
Exeter missed out on the chance to go top of the Premiership after an error-filled encounter against Northampton.
The only try of the game came when Saints' hooker Mike Haywood went over from a driving maul after 17 minutes.
JJ Hanrahan kicked a penalty to give Northampton an 8-0 lead going into the break at Franklin's Gardens.
Exeter failed to take a number of chances in the Saints 22 after half-time and only got on the scoresheet with Gareth Steenson's late penalty.
Exeter remain in second place behind Saracens after getting a losing bonus point, while Saints stay fifth.
| Low-scoring Saints and Chiefs |
|---|
| Exeter equalled their record low for points in a Premiership match - the last time they scored just one penalty was in a 33-3 loss at Northampton in October 2011 |
| Chiefs had scored 215 points in their previous seven Premiership games - an average of just under 31 a game |
| Northampton's try was just their 11th of the season in the Premiership - five of which came in their 42-16 win over Newcastle in October |
In an ugly encounter in front of a modern-day record crowd of 15,430, Saints defence did well to stifle Exeter, stopping the previously free-flowing Chiefs from getting much ball, especially in the first half.
Haywood crossed for the only try after Jamie Gibson gathered a line-out close to the Exeter try-line and the front-rower was forced over with the help of his team-mates.
Hanrahan hit the post with the conversion but found his mark nine minutes from half-time as Northampton's dominance in the scrum led to a penalty.
Hanrahan missed a chance to extend the lead just after the break and while Exeter had more ball, Saints doggedly forced turnovers every time Chiefs went close.
Steenson kicked a 74th-minute penalty for their only score of the game after winning a penalty at the breakdown, but it proved to be the final action of a dour game.
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