Chiefs 31 Harlequins 17
Exeter Chiefs 31
Harlequins 17
Mark Stevens at Sandy Park
Reigning champions Exeter Chiefs reclaimed pole position in this season's Aviva Premiership by seeing off visiting Harlequins at Sandy Park.
Far from their best showing of the season, Rob Baxter's side did more than enough to collect all five points and send the Londoners back to the capital with scant reward for their workmanlike efforts in the Westcountry.
Wingers Lachie Turner and Olly Woodburn collected a try apiece for the Devonians, while lock Jonny Hill ensured the bonus point by dotting down twice in the second period as the Chiefs collected their sixth success of the current campaign.
Fly-half Gareth Steenson converted all four scores, as well as adding a last-minute penalty, to wrap things up for the 'Men in Black' who must now ready themselves for next Sunday's away-day at rivals Saracens.
In reply, Harlequins - who were a constant threat throughout - countered with tries from James Chisholm and Tim Visser, while young fly-half Marcus Smith underlined his burgeoning talent by converting both scores, as well as adding a penalty.
Returning to league action after back-to-back victories over Northampton Saints and Scarlets in the Anglo-Welsh Cup, it was a powerful Chiefs side that took to the field for this Sunday showdown. Indeed, of the 15 men that took to the field in West Wales the week previous, only two (Moray Low and Ollie Devoto) remained in tow from the outset.
Harlequins, meanwhile, arrived in Devon minus a number of their frontline stars due to either injury or international call-ups. It meant a first start at scrum-half for Jono Kitto, who was only brought in at the start of the week on a short-term deal, while Ben Glynn was a late inclusion for the visitors after England international Jack Clifford pulled up in the warm-up with a shoulder injury.
With conditions near enough perfect for running rugby, it was Baxter’s side who emerged quickest out of the traps. Just five minutes had elapsed when the home side broke the deadlock.
Collecting possession just inside the Harlequins half, Exeter full-back Phil Dollman showed some nifty footwork to cut back on the wake of visiting defenders, before galloping clear into the space. As the Welshmen drew in his opposite number Ross Chisholm, he offered a simple pop pass to Turner, who raced over untroubled for his sixth try against the Londoners in his career.
Steenson obliged with the necessary conversion to give his side the early advantage, but it was something the Devonians could not hold on as they allowed Harlequins to hit back almost immediately with their opening points of the day.
In their first meaningful piece of possession, they picked off their rivals with a real sucker punch. A missed tackle by Low first, then Mitch Lees, on James Chisholm allowed the Harlequins flanker to burst clear and charge towards the line. Although Dollman did his best to thwart the lone raider, the momentum was too much and over went the forward for the try, which Smith duly converted to tie things up at 7-7.
The young Harlequins playmaker - one of two apprentices currently working within the England set-up under Eddie Jones - was impressing on his first Sandy Park outing. Despite just being 18 years of age, his game management was impressive and although he failed with a long range penalty on 21 minutes, he continued to prove a thorn in the side for the Chiefs.
When he was shackled, however, it allowed the hosts to find some rhythm in their game and they reclaimed the lead just minutes later. Working off a scrum on the Harlequins 10m line, the Chiefs moved the ball from right to left in an instance through Nic White and Steenson, gifting time and space to Dollman once more. Again, the experienced Exeter man picked the opportune moment to feed winger Woodburn.
Still 20 metres out and with plenty to do, the former Bath flyer drove powerfully for the line, taking Ross Chisholm with him in the process, to score in the left corner. Steenson slotted the conversion from the left flank and all seemed good in the Exeter garden once more.
That was until another error allowed a second gift-wrapped score for the visitors. Smith’s high up and under seemed to be causing no issues initially, but when Steenson allowed it to drop, rather than collecting it on the full, the youngster reacted quickest to snap up the loose ball before shipping a pass to Scottish international Visser to score with ease.
Smith added the extras to that score, plus added a penalty on the stroke of half time, to give Harlequins a slender three point lead at the turn. In between, Harlequins skipper James Horwill saw a potential try ruled out - on the advice of the TV match official - following a last-gasp scramble from Woodburn, who did well to get his hands under the ball as the former Wallaby looked set to score.
HALF TIME EXETER CHIEFS 14 HARLEQUINS 17
No doubt warmed by a few home truths from Baxter during the interval, the Chiefs re-emerged for the second period with the bit clearly between their teeth. They opened up with a powerful attacking tsunami, one which not only got Harlequins firmly on the back foot, but crucially brought them swift reward.
The impressive Don Armand was at the heart of it all, twice producing strong carries deep inside the Harlequins 22, before his fellow forwards joined in the charge. Using a simple pick-and-go game, they pounded at the Harlequins defensive line before eventually Jonny Hill found his way over from close range for a third converted try.
Moments later and the Chiefs - now hunting the all-important bonus point score - threatened again. Using a penalty to the corner, the hosts went to their tried-and-trusted, catch and drive line-out move. Jonny Hill took the resultant set-piece, the shove came on, and as the Exeter eight looked destined to score, the maul was illegally hauled to the floor.
Referee Doyle gave the penalty, the Chiefs opted for the same tactic, but this time the move was repelled well by the visitors, who amassed enough bodies in between them and the line to win a crucial turnover.
Harlequins made the most of the let-off, not only to clear the danger, but in turn threaten themselves in attack. A sharp backs move released Visser down the left, he tore down the left flank, before passing inside to the onrushing Ross Chisholm. The full-back pinned back his ears, only to be felled just short of the line by a great cover tackle by Devoto.
The danger, though, was far from over and playing with the advantage, a clever kick in behind the Exeter defence appeared to fall nicely for James Lang, who was able to dot down behind the home posts. Again, a review of the situation by the TMO proved telling for the Chiefs, who were once more relieved to see Visser’s foot had been in touch in the initial build-up.
Baxter’s men were having to dig deep into their reserves to keep Harlequins at bay, but this they did with some stout, rearguard defence, particularly close to their own try line. Replacement Luke Cowan-Dickie - making his first Premiership appearance of the season - epitomised their desire, producing a series of crucial interventions.
Having withstood the pressure, it was the Chiefs who struck again with just over ten minutes remaining. A blistering break down the left from Woodburn got the hosts front foot ball, which they worked back inside through the hands to the marauding Thomas Waldrom. As the No.8 looked to offload, his intended pass spilt loose, but fell invitingly into the path of Jonny Hill, who was able to gather and cruise over for the fourth converted try.
That effectively ensured 'game, set and match' for the Chiefs, but it was left to Steenson to drive the final nail into the visiting coffin, landing a routine penalty with the very last kick of the game.
Chiefs: P Dollman; L Turner, I Whitten, O Devoto (s Hill 59), O Woodburn; G Steenson, N White (W Chudley 57); B Moon (A Hepburn 57), J Yeandle (capt, L Cowan-Dickie 57), M Low (G Holmes 49); M Lees, J Hill; D Armand, J Salvi, T Waldrom (S Skinner 71). Replacements (not used): T Salmon, J Simmonds
Tries - Turner, Woodburn, J Hill (2); Conversions - Steenson (4); Penalty - Steenson
Harlequins: R Chisholm; Alofa Alofa (G Ibitoye 57), H Sloan (C Walker 27), J Lang, T Visser; M Smith, J Kitto; M Lambert (L Boyce 49), D Ward, W Collier; C Matthews (G Merrick 64), J Horwill (capt); J Chisholm, B Glynn (A White 70), M Luamanu. Replacements (not used): C Piper, P Swainston, I Prior.
Tries - J Chisholm, Visser; Conversions - Smith (2); Penalty - Smith
Referee: JP Doyle
Attendance: 12,598