Spencer holds nerve to win Anglo-Welsh Cup for Saracens

DavidStrettle - Cropped

Ben Spencer's last-minute penalty sealed a dramatic 23-20 victory for Saracens over Exeter Chiefs in the final of the Anglo-Welsh Cup on Sunday.

Saracens looked on course for a convincing victory when they moved 20-6 up with less than 20 minutes remaining at Franklin's Gardens.

However, two converted scores from Max Bodilly brought Exeter level with two minutes to go, only for Alex Brown to give away a penalty to hand Spencer the chance to seal the win as the clocked ticked past the 80-minute mark.

The scrum-half made no mistake, successfully slotting the kick as Saracens lifted the trophy for the first time since 1998.

The Chiefs came into the game looking to become the first side to defend the trophy since Bath in the mid-1990s, but found themselves behind early on through a Spencer penalty.

Ceri Sweeney brought Exeter level from the tee and when Spencer was sin-binned for infringing at a ruck, Sweeney's resulting kick saw the Chiefs 6-3 in front at the break.

Saracens dominated the opening 20 minutes of the second period, and took the lead through David Strettle's interception try.

The wing then collected Spencer's clever chip to touch down for a second time, before Nick de Jager managed to scramble over to move Saracens two scores in front.

Exeter - buoyed by Scott Spurling's sin-bin for coming up at a scrum - mounted a stirring fightback, Bodilly twice going over with Gareth Steenson converting both times to bring the scores level.

Just when it seemed the game was heading for extra time, Brown's infringement gave Saracens one more chance to seal the win, and Spencer kept his cool to spark scenes of jubilation.

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