Slade races downfield to score after Exeter had survived a late Saracens barrage
GARRY BOWDEN/SHUTTERSTOCK

Match Summary

Here we had everything that is great about the Prem. They bungle things badly off the field as a governing body, but when you leave it to the players and the followers and play at an outstanding stadium, you have one of the best outings known to man and, on Saturday, one of the greatest games imaginable.

You could tell what it meant to Exeter as Henry Slade broke away to score in the last act, this after a dizzying barrage of Saracens attacks to try to save a match they had led comfortably, and with the score at 25-24 to Exeter. Sarries bravely went through an incredible 24 phases to try to find a way through until Ben Earl dropped the ball and Exeter launched Slade to put the result beyond doubt.

Before that, Saracens had come perilously close to the winning score. They put in a fantastic drive from a lineout around 30 metres from the Exeter line and went hammering along the right-hand touchline. But when the whole thing collapsed over the Exeter line, referee Luke Pearce could not spot a touchdown, so ruled out a score — and in passing, it must be said the refereeing of Pearce was another factor in the greatness of the occasion.

Noah Caluori of Saracens being tackled by Henry Slade of Exeter Chiefs during a rugby match.

Caluori scored two tries for Saracens to help put his side 24-13 ahead — and seemingly in control — midway through the second half

The match went ripping and roaring around, creating tension and atmosphere. When Sarries pulled clear at 24-13 in the final quarter it looked all over, a tribute to the likes of Nick Isiekwe and Ivan van Zyl, but Exeter had been dangerous throughout. Olly Woodburn was brilliant in attack all day, and Ethan Roots and Greg Fisilau were commitment personified.

It was full-blooded, marvellously compelling. These two fine teams have been daggers drawn in the last few years, as evidenced by one obnoxious comment made by the Exeter owner in public, but it is extremely difficult to imagine they will not be in the shake-up at the end of the season.

The achievement of Rob Baxter and his recruiters in rebuilding a team of low quality last season has been almost magical. This win sent them top of the table, where they could remain for Christmas depending on Bath’s result on Sunday. And I repeat, when you attend occasions like this, you really do wonder why the Prem loses clubs, why it is scared of promoting clubs, and why it sometimes struggles for appeal.

At the start of the second half, and indeed throughout the third quarter, it still felt that for all Exeter’s power and graft, Saracens would come through.

Saracens scored a justified penalty try when a beautifully sustained move, with Earl prominent, was stopped only by a deliberate knock-on in the corner, just as Noah Caluori was about to pounce, and the sin-binning for Campbell Ridl was a formality.

That made it 19-13 to Saracens and, soon after that, a brilliant move involving the whole Saracens team, notably Elliot Daly, ended with Caluori skilfully evading the last defender and scoring in the corner. At that stage, it did not seem to be terminal when Owen Farrell, not at his best, missed the conversion.

Exeter players celebrate with scorer Greg Fisilau after a try against Saracens.

Fisilau is mobbed by team-mates after his second try in five minutes, converted by Slade, gives Exeter a one-point lead late in the game

But whereas so many teams are flattened in the final quarter by Saracens’ energy, Exeter came back in spectacular fashion. They may be a bunch of grafters but they scored two sumptuous tries from long range, with Fisilau touching down both. The second was special, as it involved Dafydd Jenkins, the lock, sprinting down the left flank like a winger to the manner born and suddenly, out of nowhere, Exeter led by a point.

Saracens came storming back. They went for a lineout and drive rather than a penalty shot, and almost obliterated Exeter’s defence by marching around 30 metres to the line. It was incredibly fortuitous for the visitors that the referee could not spot a touchdown among all those bodies. Saracens were a little miffed by that call.

Farrell then, unusually for him, hauled what would have been the winning penalty shot wide of the left-hand post, after which Exeter defended their one-point lead brilliantly. Finally they burst out of defence and Slade went steaming over for the clinching try, for what may come to be seen as one of this new-look Exeter team’s greatest victories.

Afterwards, coach Baxter expressed his delight and satisfaction with a team who have come on so strongly that they are arguably the form team in the Prem. Exeter’s march to glory was lengthy. Their demise was short. Their comeback is sweeter than sweet.

Saracens: Tries: Caluori (6min, 55), Malins (11), penalty try (44). Cons: Farrell (6). Exeter: Tries: Varney (34), Fisilau (64, 69), Slade (80). Cons: Slade (35, 70). Pens: Slade (3, 31).

Saracens: E Daly, N Caluori (R Segun 58min), L Cinti, N Tompkins, M Malins, O Farrell, I van Zyl, R Carre (E Mawi 46), T Dan (J George 46), M Street (M Riccioni 46), N Isiekwe, H Tizard, JM Gonzalez, B Earl, T Willis (H Wilson 65).

Exeter: O Woodburn, I Feyi-Waboso, H Slade, L Ikitau, C Ridl (sin-bin 44), H Skinner, S Varney, W Goodrick-Clarke (S Sio 57), J Yeandle (J Heaven 57), B Tchumbadze (J Roots 57), D Jenkins, A Zambonin, T Hooper (sin-bin 26), E Roots, G Fisilau.

Referee: L Pearce.

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Exeter go top as Henry Slade’s last-gasp try breaks Saracens siege