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Exeter overpower Northampton to reach Prem Cup finalImage source, Rex FeaturesImage caption, Josh Hodge scored the first try of the game, as Exeter Chiefs dominated first-half possession ByBen MarvellBBC Sport EnglandPublished1 hour ago34 Comments
English Prem Rugby Cup, semi-final
Exeter (17) 31
Tries: Hodge 2, Wimbush, Fisilau Cons: Skinner, Slade 3 Pen: Slade
Northampton (7) 14
Tries: Litchfield, Ulcoq Cons: Belleau 2
A Josh Hodge-inspired Exeter Chiefs overpowered a toothless Northampton Saints at Sandy Park to go through to the Prem Rugby Cup final next weekend.
The Chiefs, looking to qualify for the final for the second year in a row, dominated first-half possession, scoring tries through Josh Hodge and Zack Wimbush, with Tom Litchfield responding for the Saints.
Greg Fisilau added a third as Saints toiled, with Hodge then grabbing his second after Campbell Ridl’s perfectly timed offload before Charlie Ulcoq added a late consolation score for the away side.
Both teams fielded strong sides in the damp, misty conditions, but it was the Chiefs struck first.
Tom Cairns sidestepped his way through the Northampton defence before feeding Hodge who outpaced George Hendy to run in untouched.
Exploiting their early scrum dominance, Saints quickly responded through Litchfield at close range before Zack Wimbush responded on the verge of half-time.
Bruised and battered from a first-half in which they lost Hendy to a nasty looking knee injury, Saints were soon pegged back even further.
Will Goodrick-Clarke was barely prevented from breaking the whitewash from close range, before Fisilau spied a gap around the ruck to dive over for the Chiefs’ third try.
Any hopes Saints had of making the final were then extinguished as the Chiefs’ scored again.
Following a knock-on inside the Chief’s 22, Henry Slade fed Ridl who powered upfield before finally being tackled by James Martin.
Ridl had the presence of mind to pop the ball up to the on-rushing Hodge, who had only jog through, much to the delight of the home support.
Ulcoq’s consolation score as time elapsed proved too little too late as the Chiefs’ deservedly advanced to the final.
The location of next Sunday’s decider is dependant upon the result of the other semi-final between Leicester Tigers and Bath.
With a higher number of points from the pool stage, a win for Leicester would see them host the Chiefs, while victory for Bath would set up a repeat of last year’s final at Sandy Park.
Exeter Chiefs: Hodge; Brown-Bampoe, Slade, Wimbush, Woodburn; Skinner, Cairns; Goodrick-Clarke, Yeandle (c), Roots, Pearson, Tuima, Moloney, Worley Brady, Fisilau.
Replacements: Heaven, Burger, Mona, Bailey, Beckerleg, Chapman, Haydon-Wood, Ridl.
Northampton Saints: Hendy; Martin, Litchfield, Hutchinson, Ramm; Belleau, McParland; West, Walker, Green, Lockett, van der Mescht, Kemeny, Ulcoq, Chick (c).
Replacements: Langdon, Cowell, Davies-King, Munga, Benson, James, Thame, Caqusau.
Referee: George Selwood.
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