Appleby hails 'tremendous' Exeter after Sarries win

Susie Appleby has been Exeter Chief Women's head coach since the club was formed in 2020

Exeter Chiefs head coach Susie Appleby has hailed her side's second-half showing as they beat Saracens 29-12 in their top-of-the-table clash in Premiership Women's Rugby.

Having led 17-12 at the interval the Chiefs kept Saracens scoreless after the break at Sandy Park as they got a fifth win from five games this season.

The victory lifted Exeter to the top of the table, three points clear of Sarries and six ahead of champions Gloucester-Hartpury in third.

"We showed up and we delivered pretty much what we asked for," Appleby told BBC Radio Devon.

"I thought the second half was going to be as tight as the first half, I said to Steve [Salvin, assistant coach] at half-time I'd take that scoreline and take the win.

"To do what we what did in the second half was tremendous."

Eilidh Sinclair and Hope Rogers went over after the break to secure a third bonus-point win of the season and send Saracens back to London without a point.

"There's still massive room for improvement, that's the exciting bit, because some of our game management wasn't great," Appleby added.

"But there were tremendous performances from individuals and we'll take that and move forward.

"The front row were unbelievable - that's where it starts and that's where it finishes really, they're incredible.

"I think it was a really good all-round team performance.

"Probably my stand out player was Rachel Johnson, she's just unbelievable.

"She does all the simple things really well in combination with Emily Robinson, so probably the back row, but it all starts in the engine room and the front row."