A thrilling last-minute try by England's Fin Smith led Northampton Saints to a 35-28 win over Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park. The match seemed headed for a draw after Paul Brown-Bampoe's charge-down try in the 78th minute, but Smith's dummy and subsequent try broke the Chiefs' hearts.
Northampton's director of rugby, Paul Dowson, praised his team's persistence and trust in their attacking system. The win solidifies the Saints' position as Premiership leaders. The match began with Exeter taking an early lead through Immanuel Feyi-Waboso's try, but Northampton fought back with tries from Alex Mitchell and Ollie Sleightholme. The second half was cagey until Campbell Ridl's try put the Chiefs ahead, only for Smith's late heroics to seal the win for the Saints.