Exeter's top four hopes take a hit as Quins produce comeback win

Harlequins defied their hefty injury list to stage a rousing fightback in a 41-24 victory at Allianz Stadium that endangers Exeter’s Gallagher PREM play-off hopes.

Trailing 24-7 after just 35 minutes, Quins ran in 36 unanswered points and finished their annual ‘Big Summer Kick-Off’ in complete control with Boris Wenger’s overtime try the final indignity for the Chiefs.

Captain Alex Dombrandt was at the forefront of the resurrection act, especially in the second half, and it was pulled off despite the club missing 21 players to the treatment room.

Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter looked on in quiet fury as Wenger charged over as his side missed the opportunity to go third in the table with a defeat that leaves them vulnerable to being overtaken by play-off rivals Bristol and Saracens.

Remarkably, given the collapse in the second half, they had the bonus point banked by the 32nd minute as their attack clicked early on.

Harvey Skinner teed up Campbell Ridl with a cross-field kick to exploit an overlap created by the Chiefs’ maul, and in the 10th minute Stephen Varney was also over following a tackle-busting run by Paul Brown-Bampoe down the right wing.

Henry Slade was also involved as the Chiefs’ movement and support running caused havoc in a home defence that was pierced too easily.

Flashes of danger were seen in Quins’ offloading game and in the 22nd minute they were over through Jack Kenningham who struck off a maul, but shortly after they were beaten by Max Norey’s carrying at a line-out routine.

Quins’ tackling was exposed once more as Len Ikitau darted over following a build-up of pressure, but they remained a threat as Luke Northmore rounded off clever approach play.

Exeter’s defence was proving to be far from watertight, although the third try they leaked was down to the hosts’ pinpoint passing and clever lines as they struck from deep inside their own half with Cadan Murley finishing the move.

The Chiefs’ lead had been cut to 24-19 and when an attack broke down, allowing Harlequins to launch another assault on their half, the tide appeared to be turning.

Marcus Smith’s boot pushed them back into their 22 and having eventually escaped an unwelcome position, they conceded a penalty having worked their way downfield.

Using the penalty, Quins launched a successful attack to level the score with Jamie Benson’s mazy run, complemented by the arrival of Will Porter at pace to cross in the left corner.

Smith was unable to nail the touchline conversion, but soon after he sent a penalty between the uprights as Harlequins led for the first time.

Replacement Exeter prop Bachuki Tchumbadze was sent to the sin-bin for a blatant trip with four minutes to go, and moments after they leaked the match-deciding try when the ball was fed to Will Evans, who finished the simple overlap.

There was still time for replacement prop Wenger to make his mark and Quins celebrated wildly having kept their Investec Champions Cup qualification hopes alive.