Sarries stunned by Chiefs
Exeter secured their first away win in the Aviva Premiership with a convincing 23-9 defeat of high-flying Saracens at Vicarage Road.
Last Updated: 30/10/10 6:25pm
Exeter secured their first away win in the Aviva Premiership with a convincing 23-9 defeat of high-flying Saracens at Vicarage Road.
Fly-half Ryan Davis scored 18 points on his Premiership debut and proved the hero for the visitors, who were without first-choice stand-off Gareth Steenson.
Brett Sturgess scored the Chiefs' other try in the final 10 minutes to kill the contest off against last season's runners-up.
In a week that saw Sarries complete their high-profile signing of Gavin Henson, Alex Goode notched three penalties to show he has no intentions of giving up the kicking duties.
However, the young fly-half's first attempt was off target as he hooked a seventh-minute penalty wide of the posts after Exeter were penalised offside.
Defence
It was otherwise Exeter who were on top in the opening stages as the hosts were pressed back into their final third and forced to defend in numbers.
Saracens had began the day hoping to climb to the top of the table with a bonus-point win, but Exeter were in no mood to roll over and deservedly took the lead through a Davis penalty on 20 minutes.
The home side brought the scores level after 26 minutes when Goode slotted over a penalty after the Chiefs had entered a ruck at the side.
A kicking battle then ensued as both teams tried to find territory through long-range punts to touch.
But the match sparked into life on the stroke of half-time as a clever dummy from Davis allowed him to dart through a gap in the defence and touch down before converting his own try with the aid of an upright.
Sarries brought on England wing David Strettle at half-time but Exeter were straight back on the offensive with Tom Hayes and Mark Foster combining for a break that came up just short.
Penalties
Goode reduced the deficit by three when Exeter were caught offside and his 40-metre penalty arrowed straight between the posts, but Davis hit back in kind after 56 minutes.
Saracens then finally enjoyed a sustained spell of pressure but could not finish off try-scoring opportunities as Exeter hung on for dear life.
In the end they had to settle for another Goode penalty but Sarries' best spell of the game continued when Davis was forced to hack clear after the hosts had charged down a kick near the Exeter try-line.
A breakaway attack was momentarily sparked but the danger was snuffed out as Richard Baxter's kick-ahead was too hard and the defence covered easily.
Saracens continued to come forward but a sloppy pass sealed their fate as Exeter intercepted and loosehead prop Sturgess darted up the left and crashed over the line despite being hit by two tacklers.
Davis added the extras with seven minutes remaining to effectively secure the upset of the weekend, and he drove the final nail into the title-chasers' coffin with a third penalty three minutes from time.
