Injury blows for Saints as they bow out of PREM Rugby Cup at semi-final stage

The black, green and gold were beaten 31-14 by Exeter Chiefs, who refused to give the away side any breathing space in the south-west mist.

And to make matters worse, Saints lost a couple of key players to injury as George Hendy and Josh Kemeny were forced off during the first half.

Kemeny failed a head injury assessment, while Hendy had to be helped from the field as he was unable to put any weight on his left leg.

Saints had levelled the scores at 7-7 thanks to a Tom Litchfield try after Exeter had taken an early lead, but that was as good as it got as Exeter started to pull away.

It was a terribly scrappy game in which Saints were penalised time and again, preventing them from building any sort of momentum.

And in the end, it was a comfortable win for an Exeter side who now progress to next Sunday's PREM Rugby Cup showpiece.

Saints had headed to Sandy Park on a high, having claimed four successive bonus-point wins at the end of the pool stage.

But Exeter were the ones who struck first in the semi-final as scrum-half Tom Cairns opened Saints up with some tidy footwork before finding the final pass for the onrushing Josh Hodge to score.

Henry Slade added the extras and Saints were behind inside just three minutes.

Saints tried to respond as they won a scrum penalty from an Exeter put-in in the home half, but the Chiefs got the ball back after wrapping up Anthony Belleau.

However, Saints won another penalty from the resulting scrum, giving them great field position, which they used to fine effect, sending Tom Litchfield over.

Belleau converted to level the scores, but Slade restored the Exeter lead with a penalty after Tom West was penalised for offside.

Saints suffered a big injury blow on 20 minutes as Hendy had to be helped off after some lengthy medical attention.

Amena Caqusau came on, with James Ramm moving from wing to full-back.

Exeter were defending well with Saints trying to probe from close to halfway, meaning the away side were struggling to get any momentum in what was a fractured first half.

Saints lost Kemeny to a head injury assessment in the 33rd minute as injuries continued to bite.

Exeter sensed their chance to inflict further damage before the break and after setting up camp in the Saints 22, the hosts worked the ball for centre Zack Wimbush to power over.

Slade added the extras to make it 17-7, leaving Saints desperate for some sort of response before the break.

However, Archie McParland was penalised for a high tackle after launching a break as Saints' lack of discipline cost them dear.

That continued after the break, allowing Slade to pile the pressure on again by kicking another penalty to the corner.

Exeter held on to the ball well before Greg Fisilau provided the finish from close range.

Slade's successful conversion made it 24-7 and it was a long way back for the black, green and gold, especially as they were struggling to get anything going against a tough defence.

Saints sent on a fresh front row, including Curtis Langdon, who came on for his first appearance of the season with 33 minutes remaining.

Any time it looked like the away side may be able to put together some sustained pressure another penalty came to suck the air out of the balloon.

Exeter were refusing to give Saints an inch and there looked to be little chance of a comeback with the game predominantly being played in the middle of the pitch.

Saints continued to try to get something going but after Exeter won the ball back inside their own half, Campbell Ridl launched a counter-attack.

Ridl was brought to ground by James Martin but he managed to get the ball to the onrushing Hodge, who skated home for the score that truly put the game to bed.

Slade converted and Saints were just playing for pride in the final eight minutes.

There was a late score for flanker Charlie Ulcoq, with Belleau adding the conversion with the final kick of the game, but it was little consolation for Saints on a tough afternoon in the south-west.

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Josh Hodge; 14 Paul Brown-Bampoe, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Zack Wimbush (Will Haydon-Wood 63), 11 Olly Woodburn (Campbell Ridl 69); 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Tom Cairns (Charlie Chapman 74); 1 Will Goodrick-Clarke (Ethan Burger 55), 2 Jack Yeandle (c) (Julian Heaven 55), 3 Jimmy Roots (Khwezi Mona 55); 4 Lewis Pearson, 5 Rusi Tuima (Joe Bailey 66); 6 Martin Moloney, 7 Finn Worley Brady, 8 Greg Fisilau (Oscar Beckerleg 74).

Saints: 15 George Hendy (Amena Caqusau 21); 14 James Martin, 13 Tom Litchfield, 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 James Ramm (Toby Thame 51); 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Archie McParland (Tom James 63); 1 Tom West (Joe Cowell 47), 2 Henry Walker (Curtis Langdon 47), 3 Luke Green (Will Davies-King 47); 4 Tom Lockett, 5 JJ Van Der Mescht (Chunya Munga 51); 6 Josh Kemeny (Archie Benson 33), 7 Charlie Ulcoq, 8 Callum Chick (c).

Referee: George Selwood