Saints beat Exeter to earn first win of season

Gallagher Premiership

Northampton (13) 30

Tries: Coles, Munga, Hutchinson Pens: Smith 2 Cons: Smith 3 DG: Smith

Exeter (7) 24

Tries: Woodburn, Feyi-Waboso 2 Pens: Hodge Cons: Hodge 3

Reigning champions Northampton Saints put their opening-day conclusion down them pinch a deserved triumph complete Exeter Chiefs astatine Franklin's Gardens.

Tries from Alex Coles, Chunya Munga, Rory Hutchinson and six kicks from Fin Smith secured nan hosts nan win.

Olly Woodburn's first-half effort and 2 precocious connected from Immanuel Feyi-Waboso earned a constituent for nan Chiefs, who person started nan Premiership play pinch back-to-back defeats.

Saints' first triumph of nan run saw them leapfrog nan visitors to seventh successful nan table, while Exeter dropped 1 spot to ninth.

More to follow.

Northampton: Furbank (capt); Ramm, Dingwall, Hutchinson, Freeman; F Smith, James; Iyogun, Langdon, Davison, Munga, Coles, Kemeny, Pearson, Augustus.

Replacements: R Smith, West, Green, Scott-Young, Graham, McParland, Thame, Sleightholme.

Exeter: Hodge; Feyi-Waboso, Woodburn, Hawkins, Brown-Bampoe; Skinner, Maunder; Sio (capt), Frost, Painter, Tuima, Tshiunza, Roots, Capstick, Vintcent.

Replacements: Yeandle, Goodrick-Clarke, Street, Dunne, Moloney, Cairns, Haydon-Wood, Rigg.

Referee: Adam Leal