Northampton beat Exeter to win Prem Rugby title
The Prem final
Northampton (14) 26
Tries: Freeman, Smith, Hendy 2 Cons: Smith 3
Exeter (10) 17
Tries: Ridl, Iosefa-Scott, Jenkins Cons: Slade
George Hendy's two tries in three second-half minutes secured Northampton the Prem title as they beat Exeter 26-17 in the final at Allianz Stadium.
Hendy's scores inside the final quarter opened up a nip and tuck game as Saints won the title for a third time.
Tommy Freeman capitalised on an Exeter error to put Saints ahead inside two minutes before Campbell Ridl hit back in an all-action opening.
Fin Smith's try put Saints back in front only for Josh Iosefa-Scott to go over seconds before the interval as Exeter cut the gap to four points.
Northampton's Josh Kemeny was sin-binned after 51 minutes, with Exeter skipper Dafydd Jenkins going over to give his side the lead moments later.
Jenkins was yellow-carded himself five minutes later and, with an extra player, Hendy's 64th-minute try put Saints in front again before getting his second moments later.
Saints strike early, but Exeter respond
The occasion appeared to get to Exeter as they suffered the worst possible start when the fit-again Feyi-Waboso bumped into Olly Woodburn, who was catching Archie McParland's dinked kick towards the Exeter corner, and Freeman snaffled up the loose ball before diving in.
Henry Pollock was held up over the Exeter line five minutes later as Northampton – backed by a noisy crowd from the East Midlands – adapted to the big day better than the Chiefs.
Exeter's nightmare opening was compounded when in-form hooker Max Norey limped off with an ankle injury moments later.
But just when it seemed as though Exeter might crumble, they hit back as Len Ikitau gathered the ball after Freeman tried to keep a kick in play and fed Ridl, who raced in down the left wing for his 17th try in all competitions in his debut season.
Chiefs could have gone further ahead in the following minutes, but Saints thwarted dangerous breaks by Henry Slade and Stephen Varney, while George Furbank dropped a pass with the Exeter line beckoning in the 18th minute.
But Saints breached Exeter for a second time eight minutes from the break when Smith went in after a number of phases deep in Chiefs territory.
However, in the final seconds of the half Exeter got their second try as they kicked a penalty to the corner and Iosefa-Scott gathered the ball at the back of the resulting lineout and forced his way in.
Yellow cards make difference as Saints edge it
Saints started the second half with the same intent as the first but Exeter's defence held out for 14 phases in and around their line in the opening five minutes in a stand reminiscent of the end of their semi-final win at Bath last week.
Rory Hutchinson had a try ruled out for a knock-on two minutes later as the table-toppers looked to assert themselves.
But the momentum swung when Kemeny was sin-binned for a 51st-minute head to head clash with Jenkins, and a few phases after Exeter had kicked the resulting penalty for a close-range lineout the Wales lock forced his way in.
Saints were dealt a further blow when England scrum-half Alex Mitchell – on as a first-half replacement for the injured McParland – dropped the ball under a challenge from Ridl as he went over the Exeter line.
However, in the aftermath replays showed Jenkins had put in a dangerous challenge on Furbank and he was sent to the sin-bin with 23 minutes left.
Saints dominated the ball with the extra man and were rewarded when Hendy dived over in the right corner after a fine flowing move across the field.
It proved to be the hammer blow for Exeter's hopes as Saints reclaimed the crown they lost to Bath 12 months ago.
More to follow.
Northampton: Furbank (c); Freeman, Litchfield, Hutchinson, Hendy; Smith, McParland; Iyogun, Langdon, Millar Mills; Coles, Prowse, Kemeny, Pearson, Pollock.
Replacements: Wright, Fischetti, Green, Van der Mescht, Lockett, Chick, Mitchell, Dingwall.
Yellow card: Kemeny (51)
Exeter: Woodburn; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Ikitau, Ridl; Skinner, Varney; Sio, Norey, Iosefa-Scott; Jenkins (c), Zambonin, Hooper, Roots, Fisilau.
Replacements: Dweba, Burger, Tchumbadze, Tshiunza, Vintcent, James, Cairns, Haydon-Wood.
Yellow card: Jenkins (57)
Referee: Matthew Carley.