Owen Farrell kicked 20 points as Saracens steamrolled to a 40-22 win over Exeter at Vicarage Road on Saturday.
Exeter needed to win and hope that Northampton didn't do the same if they were to make the play-offs, but they were never in the contest with only two late tries giving the scoreline some semblance of respectability.
It was the Chiefs who made the stronger start to the game, establishing a 10-3 lead in the first quarter thanks to a converted try from Tom Johnson and a penalty from Gareth Steenson.
Farrell responded for the hosts with a three-pointer of his own. The number ten booted over two more penalties before the interval but Exeter clung on to their narrow lead as the two teams headed down the tunnel for half-time.
The second half began in a much more positive fashion for Saracens, who scored two tries in the first ten minutes following the restart to turn the contest on its head.
First, James Short dived over for a score which Farrell converted, and Sarries then extended their lead thanks to a determined effort from Rhys Gill. Farrell was again on the mark with the boot.
Saracens then went further ahead during another frantic ten-minute period just after the hour. Farrell kicked his fourth penalty of the afternoon on 60 minutes, before Alex Goode and Charlie Hodgson crossed the line and Farrell was again on target with the boot on both occasions to take his tally for the afternoon to 20 points.
The flurry of scores made it 40-10 to the hosts, but Exeter ended the contest and an impressive first season back in the top flight on a high, thanks to tries from Matthew Jess and Chris Budgen.
The scorers:
For Saracens:
Tries: Short, Goode, Gill, Hodgson
Cons: Farrell 4
Pens: Farrell 4
For Exeter:
Tries: Johnson, Budgen, Jess
Cons: Steenson 2
Pens: Steenson
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 David Strettle, 13 Chris Wyles, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 James Short, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Justin Melck, 6 Jackson Wray, 5 Mouritz Botha, 4 Steve Borthwick (c), 3 Carlos Nieto, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Rhys Gill.
Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 John Smit, 18 Matt Stevens, 19 George Kruis, 20 Will Fraser, 21 Neil de Kock, 22 Charlie Hodgson, 23 Joe Maddock.
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Luke Arscott, 14 Phil Dollman, 13 Sireli Naqelevuki, 12 Bryan Rennie, 11 Matt Jess, 10 Gareth Steenson, 9 Kevin Barrett, 8 Richard Baxter, 7 James Scaysbrook, 6 Tom Johnson, 5 James Hanks, 4 Tom Hayes (capt), 3 Craig Mitchell, 2 Chris Whitehead, 1 Ben Moon.
Replacements: 16 Neil Clark, 17 Brett Sturgess, 18 Chris Budgen, 19 Aly Muldowney, 20 Ben White, 21 Haydn Thomas, 22 Ignacio Mieres, 23 Nic Sestaret.
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
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