Exeter 18-16 Saracens: Chiefs end Sarries' double hopes in the Premiership semi-finals

Match stats: Exeter 18-16 Saracens

Exeter tries: Nowell (43), Simmonds (80)
Conversions: Steenson (43)
Penalties: Steenson (26, 32) 

Saracens tries: Wyles (57), Ellery (75)
Penalties: Farrell (5,15) 

Match report

Exeter ended Saracens' hopes of a second successive European and domestic double in dramatic fashion at Sandy Park.

Replacement back-row forward Sam Simmonds scored an 80th-minute try to secure an 18-16 home triumph and halt Saracens' reign as Aviva Premiership champions.

Seven days after lifting the European Champions Cup by beating Clermont Auvergne, Saracens looked to have again dug deep as replacement wing Mike Ellery's 76th-minute touchdown appeared to floor the Chiefs.

But Devon's finest, unbeaten in the Premiership since October, somehow clawed out a narrow victory following an earlier Jack Nowell try and eight points from skipper Gareth Steenson.

Saracens, conquerors of Exeter in last season's Premiership Twickenham showpiece, had hoped to emulate Leicester 15 years ago by retaining European and domestic titles, but the Chiefs had other ideas.

Wing Chris Wyles scored a 57th-minute try for Saracens, with captain Owen Farrell kicking two penalties, yet Exeter had just enough in the tank to keep alive hopes of being crowned English champions for the first time in their 146-year history.

Exeter welcomed back influential back-row forwards Don Armand and Thomas Waldrom, while international backs Henry Slade and Michele Campagnaro featured among the replacements after missing the Chiefs' victory over west-country rivals Gloucester a fortnight ago.

Saracens arrived in Devon without skipper Brad Barritt, who was sidelined due to a calf injury, so Scotland international Duncan Taylor featured in midfield alongside Marcelo Bosch as a solitary change following last weekend's Champions Cup triumph.

Farrell found his kicking range from a first opportunity, bisecting Exeter's posts with a 45-metre penalty, but Saracens then saw flanker Michael Rhodes limp off - he was replaced by South African World Cup winner Schalk Burger - before wing Chris Ashton also departed.

Ashton, who set a new European Cup try-scoring record when he claimed his 37th tournament touchdown seven days ago, appeared to suffer a shoulder injury following an attempted tackle on Chiefs full-back Phil Dollman, and Ellery took over from him.

But the visitors kept going about their business, despite such extensive early disruption, and a second Farrell penalty made it 6-0 after 15 minutes.

Exeter barely escaped from their own half during the opening quarter, but it proved a different story after that as two Steenson penalties in quick succession tied things up before Saracens found themselves under sustained pressure.

It was an unfamiliar position for the European champions to find themselves in, yet their defence held firm as Exeter launched a number of attacks before Billy Vunipola made a brilliant tackle on his opposite number Waldrom and gained a relieving penalty for his side.

Exeter continued to press, though, and wing Jack Nowell looked to have ghosted clear, only to be stopped in his tracks by a try-saving tackle from Saracens scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth, and an absorbing opening 40 minutes ended level at 6-6.

Saracens saw England and Lions prop Mako Vunipola go off for an head injury assessment within three minutes of the restart - Exeter lock Dave Dennis also went off after the pair collided - and, before the visitors could regroup, Chiefs struck.

Dollman made an initial break, and then it was a case of patiently going through the phases, aided by a decisive Ollie Devoto break, before Nowell pounced from close range.

Steenson kicked the angled conversion attempt, and Exeter found themselves seven points clear, but Saracens responded in trademark fashion as patient approach was rewarded when England lock Maro Itoje grasped a high pass and sent Wyles over.

Farrell drifted the touchline conversion attempt wide, and the final quarter was intriguingly set up, with Exeter leading by two points.

But just when Saracens looked down and out, Ellery struck, finishing off after collecting replacement hooker Schalk Brits' pass - then came Exeter's dramatic final flourish.

Match reaction

Saracens boss Mark McCall on "one of the great kicks of all time" that saw his side's European and domestic trophy double ended: "We had the game with two minutes left, but then came one of the great kicks of all time from Henry Slade.

"He puts that kick anywhere else, and I would be sitting here talking about one of the great wins and fights from a team who were a bit tired. Of course we are sad, and it is painful, but we can be unbelievably proud of that second-half performance.

"Well done to Exeter. We wish them all the best for next weekend. For them to reach the final in successive seasons is tremendous. They were outstanding in the second 20 minutes of the first half. It felt like we were hanging on, and we looked tired, but what I am most proud about is what happened in the second half.

"We conceded (a try) early, and a lot of teams then just fall away, but we kept on fighting, scrapping and finding a way to stay in the contest. We showed all our experience. We didn't do much wrong, and we can hold our heads up high in terms of the season we've had."

Saracens, conquerors of Exeter in last season's Premiership Twickenham showpiece, had hoped to emulate Leicester 15 years ago by retaining European and domestic titles, but the Chiefs had other ideas.

Wing Chris Wyles scored a 57th-minute try, with captain Owen Farrell kicking two penalties for Saracens, yet Exeter had just enough in the tank to keep alive hopes of being crowned English champions for the first time in their 146-year history.

Exeter captain Gareth Steenson: "It was terrific. We said for Henry to go for it with the kick. It had to be within a certain range to give us a chance, and fair play to him, it was a heck of a shot.

"He had to step up and hit it, and he showed a bit of class there, showed a bit of bottle and put us in a good position. It's up there in terms of great kicks. Saracens threw everything at us, which we knew they would. We had to get ourselves in the right part of the pitch to put a bit of pressure on. We got the opportunity, then Henry knocked the kick and the rest is history."

"We are in a much different place compared to last year. We have talked very much about being champions this year. Maybe last year, we were just happy to be in the final. A lot of people say you have to go through finals and lose them to put yourself in a good position.

"We've had some incredible days here, and with four minutes to go, it still felt like it was do-able. We were very calm. This squad has moved on, and we are very much driving ourselves to go and win the thing. There is no point in being in a final and not winning it. We will get ready to go hard next week."