Saracens retain the Aviva Premiership by defeating Exeter in Twickenham thriller

Saracens have retained the Aviva Premiership title after defeating Exeter 28-20 at Twickenham. Mark McCall's men produced an excellent first half-display to establish a 23-6 lead at the break and despite a spirited comeback from Exeter, the Rob Baxter-coached side were never able to regain the ground they conceded against the defending champions.

Two tries in the space of three minutes from Duncan Taylor and Chris Wyles transpired to be the match-deciding moment for the London side, who exploited their opponents' lacklustre showing in the opening period.

The game was delicately poised until the 34th minute, when Taylor latched onto a grubber kick from Owen Farrell to go over unchallenged in the corner. Moments later, Saracens extended their lead further, as Chris Wyles wriggled his way between two Exeter defenders to cross the tryline.

Exeter narrowed the gap in the second half courtesy of Jack Yeandle, who scored after a rolling maul. Then, in the 73rd minute, Jack Nowell held off Alex Goode and Billy Vunipola to set up a grandstand finish at the home of English rugby.

But the game was decided once and for all in the dying moments of the second-half by Alex Goode, who took a Chris Ashton pass to score the title-clinching try. "It is an unbelievable achievement by the boys," Goode subsequently told BT Sport.

"We knew we had a special group but it is a perfect way to finish the season. Exeter are a top side and they proved that all year. We knew they would come back and they threw everything at us but we managed to control the game towards the end."

Victory at Twickenham means Saracens are the first English side to achieve a European and domestic double since Wasps in 2004.