Quins stun table-toppers Chiefs
MATCH REPORT: Harlequins edged past Exeter Chiefs for a 34-30 thrilling win at Twickenham Stoop after a late penalty try secured a memorable triumph.
Chiefs flyhalf Joe Simmonds scored 25 points for the visitors but his efforts were in vain as a period of late pressure eventually paid off for Paul Gustard’s men.
It was Chiefs who took the lead after just three minutes when Phil Dollman skipped through the hosts’ defence to dot down, but Quins hit back after Danny Care – who was celebrating his 200th Gallagher Premiership Rugby appearance – took a quick tap-and-go to set up the powerful Paul Lasike.
Quins came out of the blocks in the second half the faster and seized the lead when Tevita Cavubati crossed after a scrum, but Chiefs came storming back as Sam Simmonds released brother Joe to arc round the defence and score.
And Simmonds had his second shortly after as he waltzed round Quins again, but Gustard’s players responded just eight minutes later when Marcus Smith’s converted try restored parity.
Simmonds kicked another penalty to open up a 30-27 lead for Chiefs but the hosts refused to back down, engineering a late, late onslaught on the Exeter tryline that eventually saw referee Christophe Ridley award a penalty try.
The scorers:
For Harlequins:
Tries: Smith, Lasike, Cavubati, Penalty Try
Cons: Smith 3
Pens: Smith 2
For Exeter Chiefs:
Tries: Dollman, Simmonds 2
Cons: Simmonds 3
Pens: Simmons 3
Teams:
Harlequins: 15 Aaron Morris, 14 Ross Chisholm, 13 Tom Penny, 12 Paul Lasike, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Danny Care, 8 Alex Dombrandt, 7 Chris Robshaw (captain), 6 James Chisholm, 5 Matt Symons, 4 Glen Young, 3 Simon Kerrod, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Mark Lambert.
Replacements: 16 Joe Gray, 17 Nick Auterac, 18 Will Collier, 19 Tevita Cavubati, 20 Semi Kunatani, 21 Niall Saunders, 22 Brett Herron, 23 Francis Saili
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Phil Dollman, 14 Tom O’Flaherty, 13 Ian Whitten, 12 Tom Hendrickson, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Joe Simmonds (captain), 9 Nic White, 8 Sam Simmonds, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Sam Skinner, 4 Jannes Kirsten, 3 Enrique Pieretto, 2 Elvis Taione, 1 Alec Hepburn
Replacements: 16 Jordon Poole, 17 Billy Keast, 18 Harry Williams, 19 Jonny Hill, 20 Don Armand, 21 Jack Maunder, 22 Gareth Steenson, 23 Ollie Devoto
Referee: Christophe Ridley
Assistant Referees: Jack Makepeace & Philip Watters.
TMO: Nigel Carrick.
