Northampton Saints 26-17 Exeter Chiefs recap - PREM Rugby Final latest as George Hendy's two tries brings silverware to Saints

George Hendy’s two second-half tries in a four-minute spell secured victory for Northampton over Exeter in the PREM Rugby Final.

In the pivotal second-half moments, the Chiefs took the lead through Dafydd Jenkins after Joshua Kemeny was sent to the sin bin for a head clash on the Exeter skipper. But Jenkins himself was yellow-carded for a collision with George Furbank, and the Saints went one better, scoring twice when they had a man advantage.

The match began in dramatic circumstances, as a collision between Chiefs star Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Ollie Woodburn gifted Tommy Freeman the chance to dive over the line for a try 108 seconds after kick off.

Campbell Ridl scored for the Chiefs, after fine work from Len Ikitau, and then, after Fin Smith extended the Saints’ lead, Josh Iosefa-Scott dived over on the stroke of half-time - but Henry Slade’s errant kicking, in contrast to Smith, meant the table-toppers took a four-point lead into the second half.

The match was an arm-wrestle in the second half until the yellow cards, and Hendy just kept in play to touch down in the corner, and then ran on to Smith’s perfect grubber kick to touch down, which effectively won the game.

The Saints’ defence was then awesome, keeping the Chiefs within touching distance of the halfway line despite 25 phases, before player-of-the-match Henry Pollock forced a knock on, and the Saints could celebrate their second championship in three years - with George Furbank, their departing skipper, lifting the trophy.

His last act as a Saint before joining Harlequins last season. What a way to send his tenure at his boyhood club.

With his 16 carries and 15 tackles, the England star is given the award by Austin Healey.

The best team throughout the season were pushed to the limit by the Chiefs, but Northampton took full advantage of an extra man in the second half to score twice through George Hendy.

Crucially he milked the shot clock first so there are less than three minutes for the Chiefs to force a miracle turn-around.

And Pollock celebrates like the final whistle has been sounded.

The Chiefs are in double figures in terms of phases, but still close to the halfway line.

"The first real bit of spark from Saints, they got the fluidity, they got themselves into position, and as the fatigue starts to set in now with two minutes left on that yellow card clock, they want to up the pace.

"They want to run this Exeter team off their feet while they’ve got the advantage so they can reap the dividend in the last 10 minutes."

Instead the Chiefs get the put-in to a scrum.

The Chiefs are back to 15 men and the South African lock comes on for Jenkins.

Smith's second go at a kick from the right touchline, and this time he makes no mistake.

Smith dabs a perfect kick just inside the right corner flag and with no Exeter man behind the line, Hendy runs through for his second try in three minutes.

Smith dabs a perfect kick just inside the right corner flag and with no Exeter man behind the line, Hendy runs through for his second try in three minutes.

The kick from the right touchline just stays on the near side of the posts.

The Saints laid siege to the Chiefs line and Hendy just stayed in play touching down inside the corner post.

They checked to see if Ridl pushed him into touch or dislodged the ball, but TMO verified the try call.

A good move from Northampton, but the Chiefs star makes sure his opponent doesn't get to the 22.

They have six minutes to take advantage of having a man extra.