Another Saints charge-down, and this time it's Arscott who sees his kick blocked. The Chiefs have looked comfortable for periods, but there's another warning sign of just how quickly this fixture could be tipped on its head.

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Manoa makes a great break down the middle. Saints are knocking at the door . . . forward pass relieves the pressure. Chiefs scrum at their 22m

It's beginning to reach fever pitch at Sandy Park, and there's a very specific cast of crew members from each club that are starting to have very heavy influence over their side's respective fortunes. Manoa, Fotuali'i and both Pisi brothers are pulling the Northampton strings, while Vainikolo, Arscott, Whitehead and Dollman are looking dangerous for the hosts.

Luke Arscott goes nail-bitingly close to extending the Chiefs' lead with a splendid dart from just inside the Northampton half, but Ken Pisi tracks back brilliantly to slap the ball out of his hands at the death. The result is a Saints scrum five metres out from their own line. Die-hard defending from Pisi.

Manoa is actively looking to make the difference for his side, and may have done just that after drawing the Chiefs defence into the middle of the pitch, leaving Alex Waller out on the wing with a possible overlap. Were it a swifter figure, they might have latched onto the pass flown in his direction, but the prop can only knock the ball on as it just about evades his grasp five metres out from the Exeter line.

Northampton's attack is piling the pressure on Exeter, particularly through the carries of hooker Mike Haywood at the moment, but the home team are frustrating their guests with some stern defence just in front of their own 22. Exeter really growing into this game as we progress.

TRY CHEIFS. Dean Mumm, not for the first time this season, has touched down to push the Chiefs into a vitally increased lead that could well put Exeter on their way to silverware. Vainikolo again surges down the left flank, linking up with Kai Horstmann in support, who flicks the ball just inside for Mumm to tumble over under a mass of Northampton pressure. Slade on target with his conversion attempt

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