Stunning Start To League Campaign For Exeter Chiefs
Exeter Chiefs enjoyed a stunning start to the new Gallagher Premiership season, with the Vertu Motors-backed club consigning defending champions Saracens to a record-breaking defeat in the first game of the season.
The Chiefs headed into the game on the back of a defeat to Bath in the final pool game of the Premiership Rugby Cup a week earlier.
Although that marked a first defeat of the campaign for the Devon club, a place in the semi-finals has already been secured on the back of four successive victories – with that game set for the weekend of 17/18 February against either Gloucester, Leicester or championship side Ealing Trailfinders.
Focus then turned to the visit of Saracens to Sandy Park, with the Chiefs eager to avenge the 22-20 defeat suffered last season thanks to a late Alex Goode penalty – which would be the only home league loss of the campaign and one of three straight defeats against their rivals.
This time around, the new-look Chiefs were in control from the start of the match, with Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossing the line for the opening try after little more than a minute to put the home side into the lead.
Greg Fisilau, Ethan Roots, Tom Hendrickson and Henry Slade all added their names to the score sheet before the 25 minute mark - with Slade kicking two conversions - and by half time, Josh Hodge had ensured that the game was well and truly out of reach as he crossed twice.
With a 41-0 buffer at the break, the Chiefs saw Saracens get on the board through Olly Hartley before Hodge charged from his own half to complete his hat-trick.
Rus Tuima, Ross Vintcent and Niall Armstrong made it eleven tries in total before the finish, with Sean Maitland’s reply leaving the final score at 65-10.
That marked a record defeat for the champions and was the first time Exeter had passed 60 points in a league game since May 2021, when the team thrashed Newcastle 74-3.
Next up for the Chiefs is a trip to Harlequins before Sale visit Sandy Park for the third round of fixtures.