Harlequins beat struggling Exeter Chiefs in Gallagher PREM thriller

Harlequins made it back-to-back Gallagher Prem wins with a 31-28 triumph over Exeter at Sandy Park.

Quins demonstrated their much-improved recent form with a win they arguably deserved, while last season’s beaten finalists Chiefs end the opening block of five league fixtures lying second from bottom of the table.

Lucas Schmid scored two of Harlequins’ five tries while a late score from Olly Woodburn rescued two bonus points for Exeter, who had led 21-14 early in the second half.

The visitors took only two minutes to open the scoring when a superb 55-metre move involving George Furbank and Marcus Smith was rounded off by their fellow England international Cadan Murley, with Smith slotting the conversion.

They added a second eight minutes later, beautifully orchestrated by Smith, with recalled winger Nick David dotting down, and Smith’s boot made it 14-0 in a dream start for the visitors.

When Chiefs were getting in dangerous positions, they were often spilling the ball in contact, gifting possession back to Quins.

However, when they started cutting out the mistakes, they fought their way right back into the game, aided by Quins giving away nine first-half penalties.

Exeter were also boosted by an excellent line-out, which was feared to be an area of concern before the game with international locks Dafydd Jenkins, Tom Hooper and Andrea Zambonin all out injured.

Second row Harry Wilson forced his way over from a catch-and-drive move to score his first try for the club since his summer arrival from Saracens, with Henry Slade improving the score.

Harlequins then lost Welsh centre Bryn Bradley to a 24th-minute yellow card for a high tackle on Ethan Roots but Chiefs were unable to capitalise on their one-man advantage.

Soon after he returned though, more Quins’ indiscipline saw Chiefs apply further pressure to the visitors’ line, and Georgian prop Nika Abuladze burrowed his way over from close range for his maiden top-flight score, with Slade’s conversion making it all square at 14-14 at the interval.

Chiefs could not have started the second half in better fashion, with Will Butt brushing aside a couple of tackles and running in from 35 metres out for a converted try to give Exeter the lead for the first time.

The ding-dong battle continued, when Stephen Varney was penalised for a tackle, and Quins used good field position to score a touchdown through number eight Schmid, again improved by Slade, to level it up once more.

In stark contrast to the opening period, Quins were benefitting from excellent discipline, and with 13 minutes remaining, Schmid crossed in the corner for his second try of the game and their bonus-point score, helped by an excellent Furbank offload. Smith missed the kick, but the Londoners had a five-point advantage.

Flanker Jack Kenningham squeezed over in the corner six minutes from time to seemingly all-but seal victory, but Chiefs ensured they would rescue two bonus points when winger Woodburn was the unlikely close-range scorer.