Premiership: Northampton 8-3 Exeter

It was Exeter's first defeat in the Premiership since their loss to Bath on 17 October

Exeter missed out on the chance to go top of the Premiership after an error-filled encounter against Northampton.

The only try of the game came when Saints' hooker Mike Haywood went over from a driving maul after 17 minutes.

JJ Hanrahan kicked a penalty to give Northampton an 8-0 lead going into the break at Franklin's Gardens.

Exeter failed to take a number of chances in the Saints 22 after half-time and only got on the scoresheet with Gareth Steenson's late penalty.

Exeter remain in second place behind Saracens after getting a losing bonus point, while Saints stay fifth.

In an ugly encounter in front of a modern-day record crowd of 15,430, Saints defence did well to stifle Exeter, stopping the previously free-flowing Chiefs from getting much ball, especially in the first half.

Haywood crossed for the only try after Jamie Gibson gathered a line-out close to the Exeter try-line and the front-rower was forced over with the help of his team-mates.

Hanrahan hit the post with the conversion but found his mark nine minutes from half-time as Northampton's dominance in the scrum led to a penalty.

Hanrahan missed a chance to extend the lead just after the break and while Exeter had more ball, Saints doggedly forced turnovers every time Chiefs went close.

Steenson kicked a 74th-minute penalty for their only score of the game after winning a penalty at the breakdown, but it proved to be the final action of a dour game.

Saints scrum-half Kahn Fotuali'i was forced off early on with a hamstring injury

He was followed soon after by Exeter second-row Mitch Lees, who had been touted for an England call-up, after injuring his hand

Northampton: Foden (capt); Collins, Pisi, Burrell, North; Hanrahan, Fotuali'I; A Waller, Haywood, Hill, Lawes, Matfield, Gibson, Harrison, Dickinson.

Replacements: Hartley, E Waller, Denman, Day, Paterson, Dickson, Myler, Mallinder.

Exeter: Dollman; Nowell, Campagnaro, Whitten, Woodburn; Steenson, Chudley; Moon, Yeandle (capt), Francis, Lees, Parling, Armand, Johnson, Waldrom.

Replacements: Taione, Rimmer, Low, Atkins, White, Lewis, Hooley, Short.

Attendance: 15,430

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