Chiefs dish out their own brand of capital punishment

Exeter Chiefs handed out their own spot of capital punishment as they became the first team this season to record a league double over reigning Aviva Premiership champions Harlequins.
Having humbled Conor O’Shea’s side 42-28 at Sandy Park back in October, the Chiefs repeated the feat at the Twickenham Stoop thanks in the main to an inspired display from fly-half Gareth Steenson.
The Ulsterman was simply scintillating all afternoon, spearheading a Chiefs game plan that their rivals simply could not contain. Not only did he plunder 17 crucial points with the boot, but he was involved in much of Exeter’s excellent work, which also included tries for Damian Welch and Luke Arscott.
Harlequins, for an hour at least, played their part in an absorbing encounter – and they were rewarded with an early try from winger Ugo Monye, as well as kicks from Nick Evans and Ben Botica.
However, when push came to shove in the last 20 minutes, it was the visitors who ruled the roost to secure a win that puts them firmly back amongst the division’s frontrunners.
Buoyed by a much-needed home win against London Welsh last time out, the Chiefs were forced to tinker with their winning formula as knocks to Hoani Tui, Dean Mumm and Jason Shoemark ruled them out of this away-day in the capital. Into the side came Alex Brown – for his first-ever top flight start – Welch and Phil Dollman.
Harlequins, meanwhile, also made changes to their side that saw off Sale Sharks the week previous. The biggest of which saw former All Black Evans return to the starting XV for the first time in three weeks in place of Botica; whilst Ollie Lindsay-Hague came in at full-back and Tom Guest was included at No.8 with Nick Easter switching into the second row.
- See more at: http://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/harlequins-16-chiefs-27/#sthash.aURNn...