Harlequins 22-14 Exeter Chiefs - Quins pick up first win of the season as late penalty denies Chiefs bonus point
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Updated 22/10/2023 at 18:58 GMT
The Stoop played host to a thrilling encounter between Harlequins and the much fancied Exeter Chiefs which ultimately went the way of the home side. A frenetic first half saw Quins take control and despite the Chiefs working their way back into the game after the break, the home side held on and even denied the visitors a bonus point thanks to a late Will Edwards penalty.
Will Joseph of Harlequins celebrates his try with Louis Lynagh during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Harlequins and Exeter Chiefs at The Stoop on October 22, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
Image credit: Getty Images
Harlequins held on to surprise Exeter Chiefs with a 22-14 victory in a definitive game of two halves, with both sides playing some blockbuster attacking rugby but lacking accuracy at times.
Exeter were the talk of the Gallagher Premiership after their record-breaking demolition of Saracens on the opening weekend, but were undone by inaccuracy against a determined Harlequins on a golden afternoon at the Stoop.
Trailing 19-7 after a breakneck, breathless first half, Exeter dominated possession in the second 40 minutes but couldn’t reduce the lead until Dan Frost snuck over with just moments left.
And though Henry Slade’s perfect conversion gave them a shot at glory with the last possession of the game, Harlequins' Alex Dombrandt secured an inspired turnover to confirm Quins’ first win of the season and deny The Chiefs a losing bonus point.
Even worse for Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter was the injury of Josh Hodge, the hat-trick hero against Saracens limped off after less than half an hour at the Stoop and was later spotted with his left arm in a sling.
Hodge played a major role in Ehren Painter’s opening score with the first of many breaks through a Quins midfield that Exeter targeted throughout the game. However, it was the hosts whose gameplan ultimately prevailed
With Danny Care and Marcus Smith marooned in France for another week to play in the Rugby World Cup third-placed playoff, Will Porter and Jarrod Evans have certainly set a high bar for when the first-choice Harlequins half-backs do return.
It was the first time Porter and Evans had started together in the Premiership but the pair played with the telepathy of siblings, and Exeter couldn’t cope with the flat, fizzed passes that probed the gainline all game long.
Baxter bemoaned Exeter’s efficient kicking in attack but the hosts were usually inch-perfect with the boot, which helped skewer Exeter.
Luke Northmore and Will Joseph are always willing runners who were as incisive as ever at the Stoop, but it was Nick David dropping in at first or second receiver that really made the difference.
He’d already threatened before setting Louis Lynagh free to give Harlequins a lead they’d never relinquish.
That capped a frantic opening 20 that started with Exeter picking up where they left off in the record-breaking detonation of Saracens last week. After Painter’s opening try, the hosts hit back mere minutes later through Jack Kenningham and then pulled in front thanks to Lynagh’s score.
When Will Joseph extended that lead to 12 before half-time it looked set to be a frantic final 40 minutes, but neither side could regain their rhythm after the break.
Exeter did finally cut the gap through Frost, and could’ve pulled off the impossible when Will Haydon-Wood skated through the home defence in the dying moments of the match. However, once again The Chiefs’ poor handling cost them
Talking point: Accuracy costs Wasteful Chiefs
Everything Exeter touched turned to gold against Saracens, and replicating that was always going to be a tall order against Harlequins.
Baxter may not even be able to look at the stats sheet, Exeter made 10 clean breaks and had 32 defenders beaten but just couldn’t link it all together to score more than twice - and 66 minutes apart.
In as perfect conditions for running rugby as they’ll get in late October, handling errors dogged a team with an average age of 25, while Harlequins were much more ruthless.
Exeter’s win over Saracens was no fluke, but their performance at the Stoop showed the difference when accuracy is just a few percentage points down, and should help refocus the team for the rest of this opening block of Premiership fixtures. They’ll still be right up there in 2023/24, especially if Hodge can make a speedy recovery.
Player of the match: Alex Dombrandt
Started things off for Harlequins, giving the final pass to Kenningham to open the scoring, and finished it too with that final turnover with a true captain’s moment.
On a day so perfectly set up for a winger or half-back to make the decisive play with an eyecatching break or pass, Dombrandt was always busy in the close quarters before sending a clear message to Steve Borthwick that he’s not done as an England player.
Player ratings
Harlequins: Nick David 8, Tyrone Green 7, Will Joseph 7, Luke Northmore 6, Louis Lynagh 8, Jarrod Evans 8, Will Porter 8, Fin Baxter 8, Sam Riley 6, Will Collier 7, Joe Launchbury 7, George Hammond 6, Jack Kenningham 7, Will Evans 8, Alex Dombrandt 9, Replacements: Nathan Jibulu 6, Jordan Els 6, Simon Kerrod 7, Dino Lamb 7, James Chisholm 6, Max Green 6, Will Edwards 6, Oscar Beard 6
Exeter Chiefs: Josh Hodge 7, Ben Hammersley 6, Henry Slade 6, Tom Hendrickson 7, Tommy Wyatt 8, Harvey Skinner 7, Sam Cairns 8, Scott Sio 6, Jack Yeandle 6, Ehren Painter 7, Rusi Tuima 8, Lewis Pearson 6, Ethan Roots 7, Jacques Vermeulen 7, Greg Fisilau 7, Replacements: Dan Frost 7, Billy Keast 6, Josh Iosefa-Scott 6, Aidon Davis 6, Ross Vintcent 6, Niall Armstrong 6, Will Haydon-Wood 7, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso 6
Match highlights
TRY! HARLEQUINS 0-5 EXETER
Exeter couldn't fashion a maul but it didn't stop them, they went through the forwards with Quins unable to settle the momentum and it's just a matter of time before Painter crashes over. Harvey Skinner's kick is good too.
TRY! HARLEQUINS 7-7 EXETER
Harlequins can't find any way around Exeter... Until Nick David hits the line on an outside angle to expose a huge overlap, meaning Jack Kenningham can stroll in to score. It's not an easy conversion into the sun for Jarrod Evans but he makes it look simple, bisecting the posts to square things up.
HODGE INJURED
The thing no one wanted to see, Josh Hodge has lit up the opening half an hour but has gone off with a nasty injury after claiming a high ball, the TV director didn't show any replays of that one. His replacement is Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, the one starter from last week demoted to the bench by Rob Baxter.
TRY! HARLEQUINS 19-7 CHIEFS
Northmore cuts a brilliant crash-ball from a lineout and the Quins carriers just kept coming and coming, never allowing Exeter to settle. Eventually the numbers run out and Will Joseph can fly over untouched, Evans can't add the extras though.
TRY! HARLEQUINS 19-14 EXETER
The maul went down but Exeter couldn't be denied, Dan Frost getting over the line with a hair-raisingly brave dummy and dive. And it's a brilliant conversion from Slade to narrow the deficit to just five.
Key stats
- 53 minutes before Harlequins conceded their second penalty of the game#
- 571 metres made for just 14 points in defeat by the Chiefs
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