Northampton Saints v Exeter Chiefs as it happened - Saints earn bonus point victory in Gallagher Premiership

Tries from Tommy Freeman, Curtis Langdon, Alex Mitchell, and Fraser Dingwall as well as a stellar performance at fly-half from Fin Smith gave Northampton Saints the bonus-point win over Exeter Chiefs on a 34-19 scoreline.

Exeter’s efforts from Jacques Vermeulen, Scott Sio, Ethan Roots were not enough to earn them any points from their visit to Franklin’s Gardens, and they dropped from first in the Gallagher Premiership Rugby table at the start of the round to fifth going into round six.

Freeman opened the scoring for Saints two minutes into the match as he collected a well-timed chip through from Smith to score. After a series of sloppy penalties from Exeter, Smith extended the scoreline to 10-0 with a penalty in the 17th minute.

Their second try was scored by hooker Langdon who attached himself to the back of a strong rolling maul to dot down in the 21st minute before Smith added the conversion. Saints managed to keep Exeter at bay until the past the half hour mark, but it was Vermeulen who finally got on the score sheet after multiple phases. The flanker powered over the line after he pushed through two attempted tackles to earn five points for the visitors. Slade’s conversion attempt was just wide, and Saints went into halftime with a 17-5 lead.

It took 10 minutes for the first points to be scored in the second half, and it was Smith who slotted a penalty to put Saints 20-5 up. They soon added to their scoreline with a fantastic try from Rugby World Cup returnee Mitchell. Replacement lock Alex Coles set up the foundations for the try with an impressive break that drew in three defenders before he gave the offload to Sam Matavesi. The replacement hooker gave the ball to Freeman who the sent the perfect pass back inside to Mitchell. The England scrum-half turned on the after burners to run from just outside of the Chiefs’ 22 to cross the line for a stunning third try.

Sio got Exeter’s second as they worked to break down the Northampton defence from the maul. A speedy exit from the maul through Slade set up a massive carry from Rusi Tuima before Sio was able to muscle over the line to make the score 27-12 after Slade’s conversion.

Despite their recent score, Chiefs soon round themselves down a player. Replacement Niall Armstrong was shown a red card in the 68th minute after he took a high ball. With one leg outstretched his studs made contact with the face of Smith, who played the remainder of the match with claret-splattered face. The offence was not dissimilar to one at the Rugby World Cup which saw Portugal’s Vincent Pinto’s foot make contact with Josh Adams’ head. Pinto was also shown a red card, and received a three-match suspension. Exeter will await Armstrong’s disciplinary hearing to discover his fate.

Now a player up, Northampton made went on to score their bonus-point try. After a scrum in front of the posts captain Dingwall was sent crashing through the middle to give them an easy five points, extended to seven with an simple conversion from Smith.

Exeter had a resurgence in the final few minutes with a score from Roots, who again powered over from short range, but they weren’t able to score a fourth despite a change in momentum towards the end. Alex Moon spoiled Exeter’s chances of travelling back home with point as he disrupted the final lineout to end the match.

Northampton move up into fourth in the table with 16 points and will face Midlands rivals Leicester Tigers next weekend. Exeter drop down into fifth on 15 points and will host eighth-placed Gloucester next in round six.

After that win Saints move up into the top four and end the weekend in fourth place on 16 points. Exeter drop just below them to fifth on 15 points. Saracens' win against Newcastle Falcons moves them into sixth on 14 points.

Harlequins top the table with four wins from five and 19 points while Sale Sharks sit just behind them with 18 points. Bath are currently in third on 17 points, and their West Country rivals Bristol Bears are down in seventh on ten points.

Gloucester remain in eighth after a their loss to Bath and are on nine points. Leicester Tigers sit in ninth on six points, and Newcastle remain at the bottom of the table on two points having not won a match so far.

Fin Smith had a fantastic game at Franklin's Gardens pulling the strings at fly-half for the home side. He set up the first try perfectly for Freeman with the chip kick through for the wing, and enjoyed a largely successful afternoon from the tee.

He said after being awarded his medal: "It's such a tight league this year. We had two tough first round and second round losses that could have gone either way and then the third and fourth round were tight and could have gone against us. The main thing for us is it's such a tight league, those home games are going to be so important so we put a massive emphasis on this one and we're delighted to get over the line.

"We talk about it a lot [tactics], especially in these wet conditions it's probably going to be a game where you almost don't want the ball as much as you want it. Mitch [Alex Mitchell] did a great job coming back in and TJ [Tom James] off the bench has been unbelievable so far for us. We spoke a lot about trying to turn them around and making them play out of their end and I thought we did a decent job of that.

"We like to think that we've sort of changed people's opinions of us a little bit this year. We've massively gone after our defence and our set piece. Lee Radford our defence coach has done an unbelievable job. We're trying to mix it with the tougher teams now and be viewed less as a team that can play good rugby but when the going gets tough we used to go away so we're really happy with the defence and the physical side of things this year. "

Moon destroys Exeter's hopes at the lineout and Northampton take the win at home!

The clock is in the red but Exeter earn a penalty which Slade hoofs up the field. One more try would earn them a losing bonus point.

A pause due to an injury to Saint's Graham. The necessary protocol is carried out after the hit to the head, and he leaves the field.

Slade adds the conversion!

Roots gets over the line for Exeter's third! He drives through the first contact at short range before continuing to power ahead through the second challenge on his way to the line.

Slade sends a great kick into the Saints 22 from a penalty before they win the penalty in the following phases and they go for the pick and go.

Smith with the conversion again!

James gets the ball away from the scrum quickly and captain Dingwall crashes down under the posts! An easy try for Northampton but it gives them an important bonus point!

Saints have a scrum five metres out... will they be adding to their try tally for this evening?

Armstrong's leg is left up as he catches the ball in the air and his studs make contact with Smith's face. It's an unnatural action and Armstrong is sent to the bin. Exeter down to 14 for the remainder of the match.

Slade adds the two points!

Sio powers over the line for Chiefs! They get away from the maul quickly through Slade before a huge carry from Tuima, and it's Sio who eventually breaks the Northampton defence to score their second.

Exeter are given the choice of taking the offside penalty or the penalty for standing up in the scrum from Saints. Skinner kicks to the 22 for the lineout.

Freeman looks to have scored his second, but it's chalked off as replacement prop Ethan Waller gives away a penalty for a neck roll in the build up.

Smith with the conversion!

A beautiful team try from Northampton! Recent replacement Coles makes a fantastic break to make the offload to fellow replacement Matavesi. He releases to Freeman who sends it back inside to Mitchell who runs in a fantastic score from just outside the Chiefs' 22 at Franklin's Gardens! The England scrum-half extends his lead as the league's top try-scoring scrum-half.

Smith slots the 40-metre kick!