Exeter impress in five-try win over Saints

Montpellier-bound Luke Cowan-Dickie has scored five tries in his two Exeter appearances since returning from England duty

Exeter rediscovered some of their old sparkle as they ran in five tries to beat Northampton 35-12 at Sandy Park.

The England hooker scored a second shortly after the restart before Fraser Dingwall crossed for Northampton.

But Henry Slade's interception score ended the game as a contest before Matt Proctor pulled another try back.

The bonus-point victory - Exeter's sixth in 12 league games - lifts them from eighth to fifth place in the table as Saints drop to sixth.

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Exeter are a point off third-placed Harlequins and fourth-placed Gloucester, with Northampton one point further back as only 10 points separate bottom side Bristol from the top three.

More to follow.

Exeter: Hodge; Nowell, Slade, Kata, Woodburn; J Simmonds, S Maunder; Sio; Cowan-Dickie (capt), Williams, Jenkins, Dunne, Ewers, Tshiunza, S Simmonds.

Replacements: Yeandle, Kenny, Iosefa-Scott, van Heerden, Fisilau, J Maunder, Skinner, O'Loughlin.

Northampton: Freeman; Ramm, Proctor, Dingwall, Skosan; Furbank, Mitchell; Waller, Haywood, Hill, Coles, Moon, Salakaia-Loto, Scott-Young, Ludlam (capt).

Replacements: Smith, Iyogun, Petch, Wilkins, Graham, Braley, Hutchinson, Collins.

Referee: Adam Leal

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