Poppy Cleall drives Saracens to win over Exeter to close in on home semi-final
- Premiership Women’s Rugby: Saracens 21-12 Exeter
- Chiefs unable to qualify for semi-finals
There are few less pleasant experiences in this sport than playing against Saracens at a wet and windy StoneX Stadium. Exeter Chiefs found out the hard way as they offered plenty of huff and puff but were ultimately shut down by a more ruthless and efficient team. The visitors needed to win this one and their final game against Leicester Tigers to have any hope of qualifying for the semi-finals. Now they will be spectators when the competition narrows to four.
Saracens will be in the mix. They won ugly here, and were mostly on the defensive, but that is the thing with formidable outfits, they simply get the job done. This 21-12 win takes them to second in the table and puts them in the driving seat to secure a home semi-final with a final fixture against basement dwellers Sale Sharks to come. After their shock reverse to Bristol in the playoffs last season, the most successful club in English women’s rugby with three titles will be itching to lift a trophy they have not held since 2022.
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