Chiefs secure home semi-final

Harlequins 24 Exeter Chiefs 62

This was capital punishment in it’s harshest form.

Rob Baxter’s side handed out arguably one of their finest displays in the Aviva Premiership to book themselves a first-ever semi-final in the end of season play-offs.

England star Jack Nowell led the way in a ten-try hammering of Harlequins, who were looking to give departing Director of Rugby, Conor O’Shea, the perfect send off before he heads for pastures new.

Instead, the Irishman could only watch on as Devon’s finest ran amok at the Twickenham Stoop. Nowell was crowned man of the match for his try-scoring exploits, but any of the other 22 Exeter players on show could have put their hand up to collect the bubbly at the end.

James Short claimed a brace of his own, while there were further scores for Dave Ewers, Phil Dollman, Will Chudley, Henry Slade and Julian Salvi.

The rest of the damage was inflicted by fly-half Gareth Steenson, who crowned himself Golden Boot winner with six conversions on the day.

In reply, Harlequins countered with converted tries from Danny Care, Kyle Sinckler and Winston Stanley, but it was scant reward on an afternoon when the Chiefs ruled the roost.

With plenty on offer for both sides in this final fixture of the scheduled season, it was Harlequins who made the early inroads, setting off at quite at canter in the opening exchanges.

Using their bulky forwards to power deep inside the Exeter 22, they used the platform to work the ball out back to Marland Yarde, who was downed by a high tackle from Damian Welch.

It gifted the prolific Evans – back in the starting XV following a broken leg – an early shot at goal, which the former All Blacks star immediately took advantage of with a straight-forward penalty from 25 metres out.

Home cheers proved short-lived, however, as back roared Baxter’s side with two tries in as many minutes.

Winger Short was the first to cross, finishing off in the left-hand corner after the Chiefs had worked their way through a string of attacking phases, this after England star Nowell had initially returned a deep punt from the hosts back with one of his trademark mazy runs.

No sooner had the Travelling Tribe sat down from celebrating Short’s opener when they were back on their feet once again, this time rejoicing as Nowell squirmed his way over in the right corner, finishing off clever approach play from Henry Slade and Phil Dollman.

It was the dream start for the Chiefs in the heat of the nation’s capital, but things would get even better for the visitors as they reached the midway point of the first half.

Having set up camp deep inside the Harlequins 22 from a penalty kicked to the corner, the Devonians used the resultant line-out to crash the ball up through Sam Hill, before then working the ball around the corner through a plethora of hands to the imposing Ewers, who powered his way over the whitewash for the score, converted this time by the boot of Steenson.

The Chiefs had further chances to add to their tally as the half drew towards a close, but stubborn home defending and the occasional wrong option thwarted their hopes of adding to the scoreline.

Instead, it was Harlequins who finished the half on a high note, claiming their opening try of the game with the very last play of the half.

Having turned over the Chiefs with a penalty inside their own 22, they kicked downfield, worked the line-out back in field to Yarde, whose clever link-up with full-back Mike Brown saw the latter feed Care, who was able to dart under the posts for the converted score.

Half time: Harlequins 10 Exeter Chiefs 17