Having had a storied rivalry over the second half of the last decade as the two clubs battled for title after title, this game could not have been more different from those matches.
Exeter had lost 13 of their 14 Premiership and European games this season – their worst-ever top-flight showing – while Saracens were shorn of many of their stars due to injuries and England’s Six Nations training camp.
Alex Lozowski hit a third-minute penalty for Saracens, but they were reduced to 14 men four minutes later when Juan Martin Gonzalez was penalised after lifting Jacques Vermuelen at the ruck as he landed on his head.
With the Argentine forward in the sin-bin Exeter took advantage as Innard was mauled over from a five-metre scrum soon after.
Impressive young winger Elliott put Saracens in front again as he went over in the corner from Liam Williams’ pass after Hugh Tizzard’s strong run had put the home defence to be on the back foot, allowing Saracens’ backs the space to score.
Gonzalez thought he had put Saracens further ahead, but his try on the half-hour was chalked off after a knock-on in the build-up.
Trailing by three points at the break, the hosts retook the lead soon after the interval.
A 51st-minute infringement saw Exeter kick to the corner, and from the resulting lineout maul Frost was held up inches short, but a few phases later, Harvey Skinner spread the ball out wide to Rigg who went over for his second Premiership try of the season.
Exeter’s fragile confidence took a knock when Ben Hammersley let Ivan van Zyl’s box kick go through his arms and Elliott was there to snaffle the ball and go over for his second try.
But just a couple of minutes later Paul Brown-Bampoe’s barnstorming run down the right win set Wyatt clear for the third try before Exeter immediately struck again.
Fergus Burke’s mistake in gathering a box kick allowed Franco Molia to gather and he fed the impressive Frost who put Roots through for the fourth try.
Any hopes Saracens had left were extinguished when Wilson saw red, and Frost got the fifth as he was mauled over.
But Saracens did not give up and Mawi forced his way in from close range soon after Molina’s yellow card for a ruck infringement.
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