Exeter Chiefs dominate Harlequins to produce statement win at Sandy Park

Exeter took full advantage of the swirling wind and wet conditions at Sandy Park to dominate the opening forty minutes against Harlequins, heading into the break with a commanding 24–0 lead.

The early stages were all about territory, with Exeter using the breeze intelligently to pin Quins deep in their own half. Despite the pressure, the visitors’ defence held firm, with fullback Tyrone Green particularly impressive under the high ball and dealing well with several testing kicks. The Chiefs eventually turned their dominance into points through a straightforward Henry Slade penalty, opening the scoring after three minutes.

The game quickly settled into a scrappy rhythm, with the wind and rain making handling difficult and causing multiple stoppages for lineouts and scrums. Harlequins enjoyed brief spells of possession but struggled to create any real opportunities in the Exeter 22.

Exeter’s first clear try-scoring chance came when Joseph Dweba broke down the left touchline, only to be hauled into touch just five metres short by a superb covering tackle from Rodrigo Isgro. But the breakthrough wasn’t far away. Slade produced a perfectly judged cross-field kick to the right wing, allowing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso to gather, brush off Green, and power over for the game’s first try.

Barely a minute later, the Chiefs struck again. Olly Woodburn’s clever kick caused chaos in the Harlequins backfield, and after Len Ikitau gathered and offloaded, Slade burst through a gap to finish clinically, extending the lead to 17–0.

Things went from bad to worse for Quins when Rodrigo Isgro misjudged a bouncing kick ahead, allowing Harvey Skinner to chase, nudge the ball forward with his boot, and touch down under heavy pressure from Green. Slade’s conversion capped off a near-perfect half for the home side.

After a patient and measured start, Exeter adapted brilliantly to the conditions, playing smart, territorial rugby and capitalising on their chances. Harlequins, meanwhile, gave themselves a mountain to climb in the second, albeit with the conditions in their favour.

Exeter came out flying after the break, wasting no time in tightening their grip on the game. Playing smartly into the wind, the Chiefs switched from their first-half kicking approach to a more direct, hard-running style that tore through the heart of the Harlequins defence. Their dominance was rewarded just five minutes in when Greg Fisilau finished off a relentless series of phases out wide to claim the bonus-point try.

A yellow card for replacement prop Bachuki Tchumbadze briefly offered Quins a glimmer of hope, but they couldn’t make it count. As the match wore on, the visitors’ discipline slipped, with two of their own heading to the bin, and the contest began to fizzle out. Fittingly, Henry Slade had the final say, crossing in the closing moments to round off a commanding Exeter performance and seal a statement win at Sandy Park.

Tries: 5 (Feyi-Waboso 26', Slade 28' 80', Skinner 35', Fisilau 43')
Conversions: 5 (Slade 27' 29' 25' 44' 80')
Penalties: 1 (Slade 3')
Drop goals: 0
Yellow Cards: 1 (Tchumbadze 56')
Red Cards: 0

Starting XV:

Replacements:

Tries: 0
Conversions: 0
Penalties: 0
Drop goals: 0
Yellow Cards: 2 (Murley 68', Browne 76')
Red Cards: 0

Starting XV:

Replacements:

Feyi-Waboso once again showed why he’s such an exciting prospect. His first-half try summed him up perfectly — pace, power, and composure — as he collected Slade’s perfectly judged kick and brushed off the final defender. Even without hitting top gear, he constantly threatened out wide and kept Harlequins on the back foot. A class act who continues to look every inch an England starter.

The captain led by example, as ever. Jenkins marshalled the pack with authority, got through a mountain of work, and contributed a key lineout steal and turnover. He may not have been the flashiest on the field, but his leadership and graft set the tone for the Chiefs’ dominance. A typically selfless and industrious performance from the Wales and Exeter skipper.

It was a lively showing from the scrum-half, who very nearly grabbed a stunning solo try before being hauled down by a last-ditch tackle. He did notch a try assist and kept the tempo high with quick service and sharp running. There were moments of real quality, but he’ll know tougher tests await — particularly with Italy’s daunting fixtures ahead.

Roots earned his Player of the Match award with a display full of power and intent. Relentless in defence and hard-running with ball in hand, he embodied Exeter’s physical edge. His recent form has put him firmly on England’s radar, and while timing might not be perfect with the squad announcement imminent, he couldn’t have made a stronger case.

A masterclass from the Chiefs’ playmaker. Slade orchestrated the attack beautifully, his precision kick setting up Feyi-Waboso’s opener before crossing himself just minutes later. He dictated the game with intelligence, kicked superbly both from hand and tee, and capped his day with a late try to finish with 23 points. A complete performance from one of the Premiership’s most composed and creative backs, who has done his England hopes a huge boost amidst rumours of him potentially being dropped.