Fin Smith’s last-gasp try breaks Exeter hearts and wins thriller for Northampton

• Exeter 28-35 Northampton

• Teams share nine tries in high-scoring contest

Spring is here, the pitches are firming up and the playoff race is intensifying. As dramatic finishes go this was right up there with both Northampton and Exeter believing they had the game won at different moments. In the end the decisive thrust came from the Saints via a last-minute try from the England fly-half Fin Smith which kept the Prem leaders on track for a home semi-final

It had seemed that a 77th minute try from the Chiefs’ replacement Paul Brown-Bampoe, magnificently converted from wide out by Henry Slade, would ensure three points for both teams. Instead Smith came scampering left past a couple of tired would-be Chiefs tacklers and had the pace and nerve to skip past both for a hugely valuable score.