Match Centre: Gallagher Premiership: Exeter Chiefs 65-10 Saracens

Exeter Chiefs 65-10 Saracens, Sandy Park

Exeter Chiefs kick-started the new Gallagher Premiership season with a record 65-10 victory over Saracens at Sandy Park on Saturday.

This was Saracens' biggest defeat with their previous coming against Wasps in February 2020 when they lost the encounter against Wasps with a 60-10 margin. While Exeter were without a number of players who left them in the summer, Saracens also had Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje, Jamie George and Nick Tompkins away for England's World Cup duty.

Exeter made a flying start to the game as Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored out wide after good work from Josh Hodge but Henry Slade, who had a tough outing missed his first conversion. Saracens were down to 14 players temporarily as Alex Lozowski was sin-binned for making contact with the head of Hodge.

The home side made full use of the numerical advantage as Greg Fisilau dived over following a powerful maul from a five-metre line out and shortly Ethan Roots dived from close range in the 12th minute. The bonus point for Exeter came inside the opening quarter as he collected a chip to touchdown. Slade though missed out on two conversions making the scoreline 22-0.

Slade made amends for his tough kicking outing as he intercepted a pass from Alex Goode to crossover before Aled Davies became the second Saracens' player to be yellow carded for a high tackle.

Hodge became a perfect replacement for Stuart Hogg as he dived over collecting a loose ball around the half hour mark and at the stroke of half time his speed was on display as he dotted down in the left corner to drive Exeter to a 41-0 lead at the end of the opening half.

Saracens finally opened their account early in the second half as Olly Hartley capitalised on a pass from Alex Lewington to crossover but Alex Lozowski missed out on conversion. Exeter suffered a minor setback as Tommy Wyatt was yellow carded for a tip tackle on Rotimi Segun.

Saracens did not make use of the extra player advantage instead Exeter looked further threatening as Fisilau's second try was ruled out after consulting with a TMO but soon Hodge completed his hat-trick in the 55th minute and Slade improved to extend their lead to 48-5.

As Rus Tuima scored Exeter's ninth try from close range, the 50-point mark was breached before Sean Maitland crossed unopposed after Saracens won a scrum penalty and worked the ball wide to him. Further tries from Ross Vintcent and Niall Armstrong stretched Exeter's tally to 65 points before Saracens had Andy Christie's try disallowed for an infringement as they succumbed to a 55-point defeat.

Team line up:

Exeter: Hodge; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Hendrickson; Wyatt, Skinner; Cairns, Sio, Yeandle (capt), Painter, Tuima, Pearson, Roots, Vermeulen, Fisilau.

Reserves: Norey, Keast, Iosefa-Scott, Davis, Vintcent, Armstrong, Haydon-Wood, Hammersley.

Saracens: Parton; Segun, Lozowski (capt), Hartley, Lewington; Goode, Davies; West, Adejimi, Riccioni, Hunter-Hill, Isiekwe, McFarland, Knight, Willis.

Reserves: Hadfield, Adams-Hale, Clarey, Stonham, Christie, Bracken, M. Vunipola, Maitland.