Harlequins 26-39 Exeter: Report and reaction

Match stats: Harlequins 26-39 Exeter

Harlequins tries: Luamanu (3), Evans (42), Visser (80)
Conversions: Swiel (80)
Penalties: Evans (28, 40, 57)

Exeter tries: Ewers (17), Campagnaro (36), Turner (65, 76), Slade (68)
Conversions: Slade (36), Steenson (65, 68, 76)
Penalties: Slade (8, 50) 

Match report

Exeter powered closer to a home semi-final in the Aviva Premiership after claiming a bonus-point 39-26 victory over Harlequins at Twickenham Stoop.

Lachie Turner and Henry Slade crossed in the space of three minutes to sweep an entertaining match beyond Quins' grasp in the final quarter before Australian full-back Turner then added his second.

Second-placed Chiefs' finishing proved the difference with Dave Ewers and Michele Campagnaro also crossing in a conclusive win that propels them to a sixth successive league victory.

The result all but ends Quins' hopes of finishing in the top four and they were left reeling as they saw a 15-11 half-time deficit and then 19-18 lead descend into a heavy home defeat.

They could not have made a better start as a dynamic attack initiated by Mike Brown ended when Danny Care sent Mat Luamanu diving over in the corner with a sharp missed pass.

A hole in their defence was exploited by prop Carl Rimmer who was stopped by a forceful tackle from Brown and after 17 phases Exeter were forced to settle for a penalty.

Delicate hands from Joe Marler and Kyle Sinckler ignited Quins but they could not capitalise on the brilliance of their props and in the 18th minute they slipped behind.

A moment of magic from Slade created the initial gap, his step and pass drawing in Marland Yarde and as Exeter surged forwards Ewers was able to pick up and drive over.

Chris Robshaw was putting in an extraordinary shift in defence and it was a tackle on Kai Horstmann that forced him to receive treatment to his neck.

But even the commitment of the England flanker could not stop Exeter's second try, which began when Brown failed to deal with a high ball.

The Chiefs were ruthless as they pounced on a rare error from the full-back, gobbling up possession with James Short drifting across field to combine with Olly Woodburn to send Campagnaro across the whitewash.

Evans landed a penalty on the stroke of half-time and the former All Blacks fly-half then turned poacher shortly after the interval when he picked off Ollie Devoto's ill-judged pass to touch down.

A breathless passage of play saw both sides butcher try-scoring opportunities and after Slade and Evans swapped penalties, Quins led 19-18 heading into the final quarter.

Once again Exeter showed their ruthless streak, however, with a quick-witted counter attack that began when Danny Care's grubber was gathered by Short.

In a heartbeat the left wing flicked the ball to Turner and the Australian raced downfield, chipped ahead and expertly caught the kick and touched down.

It was kicking that exposed Quins once more three minutes later, scrum-half Jack Maunder chipping over, Slade collecting via a kind bounce and then putting boot to ball himself before weaving over.

Exeter were able to plunder their fifth and final try as their opponents blundered once more as Turner grabbed his second, before Tim Visser posted a late consolation score. 

Post-match reaction

Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter insisted he would be happy to face Saracens home or away: "When you look across a season you can't get emotionally attached to a home semi-final because when that happens you've lost the battle already.

"For us it's about turning up each week and playing well, whether we're at home or away.

"We've been on a good run and why can't that continue, half of those games coming away so why should that be an issue for us?

"Five points here has really helped us with the home semi, but that's not the be-all and end-all.

"We've been to Saracens and won before, albeit not in such a high-profile game. But Saracens would be the same, they'd be comfortable coming to us.

"It wouldn't be a big issue for them and we shouldn't see it as a big issue for us."

Harlequins' hopes of finishing in the play-offs are all but over following a defeat that failed to reflect their endeavour and director of rugby John Kingston insisted qualifying for the Champions Cup is now their only objective: "Exeter took a complete buffeting for a lot of the game and managed to stay in it, which they should take full credit for, but to come away with nothing is hard to take.

"I said six or eight weeks ago that the play-offs were unlikely to happen in my view and no, that isn't likely to happen.

"My focus has been finishing in the top six so that we can get into the Champions Cup for the first time in three years.

"There's still all to play for and with two games left we have to maximise our opportunities."