Last-Gasp Smith Try Seals Thrilling Northampton Victory

In a nail-biting finish, England fly-half Fin Smith scored a last-minute try to give Northampton Saints a 35-28 win over Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park. The match seemed destined for a draw after replacement winger Paul Brown-Bampoe scored a charge-down try in the 78th minute, but Smith's dummy allowed him to coast over the line and break the Chiefs' hearts. Northampton's director of rugby, Paul Dowson, praised his team's perseverance, saying, "We stuck at it again in what was another proper game. It's fine margins, but I like the way we carried on playing, carrying that pressure and having that belief we could get over." Exeter had started strongly, with a try from Immanuel Feyi-Waboso after just 82 seconds, and they doubled their lead with a try from Will Rigg five minutes later. However, Northampton fought back, with tries from Alex Mitchell and Ollie Sleightholme, and the teams were locked at 14-14 at halftime. The second half was cagey until Campbell Ridl scored a try for Exeter just before the hour mark, but Northampton's Santi Carreras was not to be denied, and his two tries helped Bath secure a 48-15 victory over Harlequins. Meanwhile, Leicester enhanced their Premiership Rugby charge with a thumping 62-3 victory over Newcastle, with Gabriel Hamer-Webb scoring five tries.