'Every moment ached with importance as Northampton win compelling final'

'Every moment ached with importance as Northampton win compelling final'Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Northampton Saints' two recent Prem triumphs in 2024 and 2026 have come either side of an appearance in the Champions Cup finalByMike HensonBBC Sport rugby union news reporterPublished9 minutes agoCommentsIt wasn't always top-quality rugby. But Northampton's 26-17 win over Exeter was a final of the highest calibre nonetheless.A sweat-greased ball proved difficult to tame, even for two of the deftest teams in the league.George Furbank spilled one simple chance to stroll in in the first half, shortly after Stephen Varney had juggled another at the other end, allowing a Northampton defender to sweep in and steal his legs from under him. Saints' scrum-half Alex Mitchell shelled another gilt-edged opportunity as he slid in after the intervalForty-seven minutes into the game, there had already been 19 handling errors - 11 from Northampton and eight from Exeter.Line-outs and scrums alike were glitchy.Defences were too tight and attacks too inaccurate to conjure the sort of free-scoring tryfest that has characterised some matches this Prem season.Rugby Union Weekly: Saints beat Exeter to the Prem titleAttributionSoundsNorthampton beat Exeter to win Prem Rugby titlePublished14 hours agoCan 'best Northampton team ever' become one of English rugby's greats?Published12 hours agoInstead, every moment ached with importance. Every margin seemed like the knife-edge that might split the spoils one way or the other.The final try summed it up. Exeter captain Dafydd Jenkins had served out his 10 minutes in the sin bin. He was waiting only for the next stoppage to rejoin the fray. But ahead by two points, Northampton kept the ball, and their powerplay, alive for 13 phases.When Fin Smith put his kick in behind the Exeter defence it was tracking towards the touchline, but a rogue bounce took it back infield. George Hendy dived and do...