European champions Saracens retained their English Premiership title with a 28-20 win against the Exeter Chiefs in the Twickenham final on Saturday.

Saracens led 23-6 at the break thanks to two tries from centre Duncan Taylor and winger Chris Wyles in the space of three minutes, and good goal-kicking from flyhalf Owen Farrell. Exeter's first-half points came from the boot of captain and flyhalf Gareth Steenson.

However, the Chiefs hit back in the second half with tries by replacement hooker Jack Yeandle and winger Jack Nowell, the second of which came in the 72nd minute. Steenson converted both to make it 23-20 and set up a thrilling finish.

But Saracens secured the victory when fullback Alex Goode scored a try that gave his side an eight-point cushion, and the missed conversion didn't matter.

Saracens are only the fifth club to pull off a league and European Cup double and the first English side to do so since Wasps in 2004.

Saracens – Tries: Duncan Taylor, Chris Wyles, Alex Goode. Conversions: Owen Farrell (2). Penalties: Farrell (3).
Exeter Chiefs – Tries: Jack Yeandle, Jack Nowell. Conversions: Gareth Steenson (2). Penalties: Steenson (2).

Saracens – 15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Duncan Taylor, 12 Brad Barritt (c), 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Will Fraser, 6 Michael Rhodes, 5 George Kruis, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Petrus du Plessis, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Mako Vunipola.
Subs: 16 Jamie George, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 Juan Figallo, 19 Jim Hamilton, 20 Jackson Wray, 21 Neil de Kock, 22 Charlie Hodgson, 23 Marcelo Bosch.

Exeter Chiefs – 15 Phil Dollman, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ian Whitten, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Gareth Steenson (c), 9 Will Chudley, 8 Don Armand, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Mitch Lees, 3 Harry Williams, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Ben Moon.
Subs: 16 Jack Yeandle, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Tomas Francis, 19 Damian Welch, 20 Kai Horstmann, 21 Dave Lewis, 22 Michele Campagnaro, 23 James Short.

Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images