3 hours ago
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The Prem
Exeter (24) 38
Tries: Feyi-Waboso, Slade 2, Skinner, Fisilau Cons: Slade 5 Pens: Slade
Harlequins (0) 0
England centre Henry Slade scored two tries and kicked 13 points as Exeter continued their resurgence with a thumping Prem win over Harlequins.
The Chiefs scored three tries in a 10-minute first-half spell to stun Quins, with Slade at the heart of things as he set up Immanuel Feyi-Waboso's opener before being put through by Australian debutant Len Ikitau two minutes later.
Harvey Skinner made it 24-0 at the break as he capitalised on a Harlequins error, while Greg Fisilau went over in the corner four minutes after half-time for a bonus-point try.
A stifling defence ensured the hosts - who had almost two thirds of possession and territory - did not give up a point for the first time in almost two years before Slade got his second try in the final seconds.
The win moved Exeter up to fifth in the Prem table, while Harlequins - who last failed to score in a league game last December - stay third from bottom with one win from their first four fixtures.
Exeter were dealt a blow before kick-off when winger Paul Brown-Bampoe failed a late fitness test, allowing veteran winger Olly Woodburn to play for the first time in 10 months after recovering from a knee ligament injury.
Slade's early penalty put them in front in a scrappy first quarter as both sides made errors in the wet and windy conditions.
On a day when Australia centre Ikitau joined Exeter's much-vaunted backline, it was their longest-serving member Slade who showed his class when his 26th-minute kick-pass to the right was gathered by England team-mate Feyi-Waboso for his sixth try in four games.
Two minutes later, Slade turned from provider to scorer as Quins failed to deal with a high ball and Ikitau reacted quickest as he popped the ball to the England man to go in under the posts.
Quins' failure to deal with the high ball cost them again as Skinner pounced on the error and kicked past Tyrone Green before dotting down for the home side's third try as they took a commanding half-time lead, having had the wind at their backs.
Exeter's forwards - with Ikitau's Wallabies team-mate Tom Hooper also making his debut - went to work immediately after the break and created the opening for number eight Fisilau to go over in the left corner.
Chiefs replacement prop Bachuki Tchumbadze was then sin-binned for a high tackle 16 minutes after the break.
But, with the weather improving, Exeter's defence ensured Quins did not get anywhere near their line before the Londoners' skipper Caden Murley went to the bin for a deliberate knock-on with 12 minutes left as his desperation summed up his side's day.
They were further depleted when replacement Harry Browne was sin-binned for a high hit on Tchumbadze as their disappointing start to the season continued.
Slade put the gloss on Exeter's win as he went over from close range in the dying seconds following another spell of pressure from the home pack.
Exeter: Hodge; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Ikitau, Woodburn; Skinner, Varney; Goodrick-Clarke, Dweba, Iosefa-Scot, Jenkins (capt), Tuima, Hooper, Roots, Fisilau.
Replacements: Yeandle, Burger, Tchubadze, Zambonin, Pearson, James, Chapman, Hammersley.
Yellow card: Tchubadze (56).
Harlequins: Green; Isgro, Northmore, Benson, Murley (capt); Smith, Porter; Baxter, Walker, Williams, Petti Pagadizabal, Lewies, Kenningham, Evans, Cunningham-South.
Replacements: Turner, Wenger, Delgado, Treadwell, Browne, Carr, Townsend, Anderson.
Yellow card: Murley (68), Browne (77).
Referee: Karl Dickson.
