Premiership surprise: Champions fall to record-setting Exeter

At Sandy Park, the defending Gallagher Premiership champion Saracens suffered a record-breaking defeat at the hands of the Exeter Chiefs.

Josh Hodge scored a hat-trick, while Rob Baxter’s team scored 11 tries as they defeated the opposition 65-10.

Saracens just had no answer for the strength, pace, and precision of the Devonians, who scored a bonus point before the 16th minute and led 41-0 at halftime in a commanding performance from beginning to end.

The new and young Chiefs were quickly in their attacking stride and scored in the first minute after being given what appeared to be a difficult assignment in the season opener.

Winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso completed a smooth home attack by racing onto an audacious pass from Harvey Skinner down the right flank.

The Chiefs struck again shortly after, with number eight Greg Fisilau hooking himself to the back of a close-range line-out to increase the lead while Sarries captain Alex Lozowski was in the sin-bin.

All of the Saracens appeared to be at sea as they battled to halt the persistent Exeter onslaught.

A few yards out, rookie Ethan Roots scored his third try. Tom Hendrickson then added the extra point after Henry Slade, who had caught Tom Cairns’ deft chip over the top, passed the ball to him.

Then, England international Slade joined in the try-scoring fun, intercepting a pass in the middle to sprint clear from halfway and increase his team’s lead to 29-0.

Baxter’s team didn’t ease up as they approached the half, and Hodge helped himself to a quick double, the second coming after breaking four tackles at the end of a brilliant cross-field play.

The intermission couldn’t have come at a better time for Saracens, who took advantage of the opportunity to reorganize and formulate a new game strategy for the second half.

Regardless of what was said, it initially had the desired result since Olly Hartley was sent barreling down the left flank for the goal by a beautiful combination between Alex Lewington and replacement Andy Christie.

The Chiefs quickly resumed their offensive strategy, but it was the spark the Saracens had been looking for. With a jet-propelled break from deep within his own half, Hodge quickly scored his hat-trick when Fisilau was stopped on the line.

Unsatisfied with that, the Chiefs proceeded to advance in force, intimidating the Saracens into submission with a vicious onslaught from every direction. The majority of the donkey labor was done by the home pack, which helped them go closer to the line. Rus Tuima rounded off the task.

To their credit, Saracens didn’t give up and got up from the ground to score a last-gasp try of their own through Scotland international Sean Maitland. However, in the big picture, it was a little too late.

In fact, the home team enhanced their polished performance by scoring two additional tries in the closing minutes through replacements Ross Vintcent and Niall Armstrong.