The sniping of replacement scrum-half Stu Townsend inspired Chiefs. Saracens, however, stopped Exeter twice at close-range – the second time thanks to a steal from Theo McFarland – before breaking out and adding another penalty goal following Farrell’s offload to Earl.
Rotimi Segun, an explosive runner who seems to be growing more dangerous by the week, was the architect of the bonus-point try. He rose to gather a high ball and fizzed into open space. Earl was in support and had the pace to stretch clear.
Chiefs had contributed much to the game and it was fitting that Townsend scored a consolation. That was all it would be. Saracens march on ominously. Even if Exeter face a scrap to salvage a play-off berth, Baxter remained upbeat. He saluted an intrepid attacking display, tied together by Slade, and reiterated that Chiefs do not require major surgery.
“We’ll know exactly where we stand after next week’s round,” Baxter said. “That’s our bye week and the fixtures unwind. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if we’re in a position where two wins would see us through to fourth spot.
“If finishing fourth or fifth is a re-set year for us, a hell of a lot of clubs would take that. There have been a lot of clubs who have spent 10 years bumbling along the bottom as a re-set.”
Match details
Scoring: 3-0 Slade penalty, 3-3 Farrell penalty, 8-3 Daly try, 10-3 Farrell conversion, 10-8 Skinner try, 10-13 Woodburn try, 10-15 Slade conversion, 13-15 Farrell penalty, 18-15 Maitland try, 20-15 Farrell conversion, 23-15 Farrell penalty, 28-15 Tompkins try, 31-15 Farrell penalty, 36-15 Earl try, 38-15 Farrell conversion, 38-20 Townsend try, 38-22 Hogg conversion
Saracens: A Goode; A Lewington (R Segun, 61), R Segun, E Daly, N Tompkins (D Taylor, 71), S Maitland; O Farrell, A Davies (I Van Zyl, 71); E Mawi (R Barrington, 61), J George (K Pifeleti, 73), V Koch (A Clarey, 71), N Isiekwe, T Swinson (A Christie, 47), T McFarland, B Earl, B Vunipola (J Wray, 67).
Exeter Chiefs: S Hogg; O Woodburn (J Hodge, 67), T Hendrickson, I Whitten, T O’Flaherty (J Simmonds, 75); H Slade, S Maunder (S Townsend, 56); A Hepburn (B Jeast, 61), J Yeandle (, M Street (P Schickerling, 48), J Gray (D Jenkins, 61), S Skinner, J Kirsten (S Grondona, 62), R Capstick, J Vermeulen.
Referee: C Maxwell-Keys (RFU).
Attendance: 9,645.
