Dan Biggar played a leading role as Northampton Saints impressed on their way to a bonus-point victory over Exeter Chiefs.
The Wales fly-half was influential in open play and from the kicking tee as the east Midlands side battled to a 31-28 victory at Franklin’s Gardens.
Biggar, who will be looking to be a key contributor for Warren Gatland and Wales in the 2019 Guinness Six Nations, gave the decisive pass for Piers Francis for the first try of the game.
He followed that by going one better not long after, reaching over for a try of his own, his first in Northampton Saints colours.
Up against an Exeter that was dominant up front, with England duo Ben Moon and Harry Williams turning the screw in the scrum, Saints were pegged back.
But after England Under-20s centre Fraser Dingwall went over and Biggar converted, they led at the break.
A try from Moon levelled matters but an intercept try from Cobus Reinach, with Biggar adding the extras, and then an all-important penalty, was enough for the home side to come out victorious.
And for Biggar it was another opportunity for him to stake a claim for the Wales starting fly-half jersey, which Gareth Anscombe largely wore in November.
Wales start their 2019 Guinness Six Nations campaign in the opening match away to France in Paris on February 1.
