Northampton won their second Premiership title in three years with a 26-17 victory over Exeter in a fast-paced final on a sweltering afternoon. George Hendy scored two tries in four minutes to overturn a 17-14 deficit, setting up a memorable win for the Saints.
Match Overview
The game began at a frantic pace, with Northampton's Tommy Freeman scoring within the first two minutes after Exeter's Ollie Woodburn and Manny Feyi-Waboso collided. Exeter responded through Campbell Ridl, who sprinted 45 metres to score after Len Ikitau intercepted a Freeman offload. The first half ended with Exeter's Josh Iosefa-Scott crashing over from a lineout that went astray, but Henry Slade missed the conversion, leaving the half-time score 14-12 to Northampton.
Second Half Drama
Exeter took the lead for the first time in the 51st minute when captain Dafydd Jenkins charged over, with Slade adding the conversion to make it 17-14. Northampton were down to 14 men at the time due to Josh Kemeny's yellow card. However, Hendy struck twice in quick succession: first finishing a move after a break by Henry Pollock, then scoring again from a clever chip and chase. Fin Smith converted both, putting Northampton 26-17 ahead.
Key Moments
Exeter had chances to close the gap, but a last-ditch tackle by Ridl on Alex Mitchell and a yellow card for Jenkins for a high tackle on George Furbank checked their momentum. Northampton's defence held firm in the final minutes, securing the win.
Quotes and Statistics
"It was a relief at the final whistle," said Furbank, who lifted the new, heavier trophy in his final game for the Saints before moving to Harlequins. Attendance was 81,126, underlining the strength of English domestic rugby. Northampton's victory capped a season that restored faith in the financially battered domestic game.
