Tough Weekend For Exeter With Saracens Loss
Exeter Chiefs continue to chase a first win of the Premiership Rugby season after slipping to defeat on the road to Saracens, who moved back to the top of the table as a result.
The Vertu Motors-backed team was looking to pick up a maximum four points for the first time this season after bonus points defeats to Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints in the opening two fixtures.
Whilst the game at the StoneX Stadium had an even start, Saracens took control of the game mid-way through the first half when Jamie George was mauled over the line to open the scoring.
Although Alex Lozowski was unable to add the extra points for the conversion on that occasion, he did convert when Tobias Elliott ran from his own half to score the second and then when Ben Earl added a third.
Josh Hodge managed to reduce the gap when he went beneath the posts, but a fourth Saracens try from Fergus Burke put the home side well clear at the break with a 24-7 lead.
Ben Hammersley was sin-binned for a head clash with Andy Onyeama-Christie moments after the break to make Exeter’s task of trying to get back into the game even more difficult, and it didn’t help when Earl then picked up his second try moments later to take the score to 29-7.
Hodge picked up his second try just after the hour mark but it was too little, too late for the Chiefs, who will now hope to open their account for the season at home to Bristol this weekend.