'Step too far' for Saints in PREM Rugby Cup semi-final at Exeter

The black, green and gold were well beaten in the west country, losing 31-14 at Sandy Park.

Exeter stifled Saints, who were unable to really get anything going as they bowed out of the competition.

But head coach Vesty believes the squad will feel the benefits of the run to the final four.

"The group that have played in this competition have stepped up and gone beyond," Vesty said.

"We're in a much better place for having gone really well in this competition.

"With this group having pushed so hard, it's only going to give us competition for our squad so it's a really good thing.

"It was disappointing for it to end in that manner but Exeter did what they do very well and it was a step too far for us."

Adding to his point about how much the cup will have helped the Saints squad for the weeks, months and years ahead, Vesty said: "If you use Amena (Caqusau) as an example – he's not played at anything like this level before and he's gone and improved every week and got into a semi-final.

"You put that on repeat for so many other players and we're going to be in a much better spot because of having a run in this competition.

"You could name a lot of guys and it's all going to stand us in good stead. It's good for our squad.

"Then you've got other guys like Chicky (Callum Chick) who needed to play and Archie (McParland) who has got real confidence coming from this.

"It's been great for us over the whole competition.

"It was just slightly disappointing to lose in that fashion."

Saints suffered two injury blows in the first half at Exeter as Josh Kemeny failed a head injury assessment and George Hendy had to be helped from the field as he was unable to put any weight on his left leg.

When asked if he knew the extent of Hendy's injury, Vesty said: "No, not really.

"He's very sore.

"We're hoping it was a knee on knee and it's bled out but we don't know yet.

"Fingers crossed."

Saints' back-three options were already stretched with Edoardo Todaro and Ollie Sleightholme having been on the injured list for the trip to Exeter.

And Vesty said: "We 100 per cent will (need the whole squad).

"Every run-in we ever have, Litchy (Tom Litchfield), who plays in the centres, seems to end up on the wing!

"It always happens that we end up using all our resources and that's the tough part of competing in both the PREM and Europe, but we'd rather that, wouldn't we?"

Saints will now take next weekend off before returning to action in the Gallagher PREM at home to Newcastle Red Bulls on March 21.

"We're going to be training against Coventry at the back end of the week so we'll use that to get a level out of our training and use it to put us in the best position to play against Newcastle," Vesty explained.

"I don't think we need (to arrange) another game because it would be a stretch too far on a squad that's already taken a few knocks."