Match Centre: Exeter Chiefs 43-42 Harlequins

Exeter Chiefs 43-42 Harlequins, Sandy Park

Christ Tshiunza scored a try in the closing stage as Exeter Chiefs edged out Harlequins 43-42 in the third round of the Gallagher Premiership at Sandy Park on Sunday.

This is third win for Exeter in as many games as they are at second place in the table while Harlequins are at sixth position after losing their second game in the season.

Harry Williams gave a terrific start to the hosts as he powered his way through the posts in the third minute and Joe Simmonds landed a conversion and a penalty apiece to make it 10-0.

Rob Baxter's men extended the lead further as Stu Townsend picked from the base of the ruck along with the assistance from Olly Woodburn to cross over. In the 22nd minute Simmonds and Woodburn combined to send Christ Tshiunza over. With Simmonds kicking both the conversions Exeter extended their lead to 24-0.

The first points for Harlequins came in the 27th minute as Marcus Smith set up Cadan Murley over and the England fly half kicked the extras to reduce the arrears to 17 points. Nevertheless, Exeter were the dominant side heading into the break as a spilled ball from centre Lennox Anyanwu allowed Sam Skinner to dot down as they completed the opening half with a 31-7 lead.

The visitors narrowed down the gap early in the second half as Tyrone Green went past Luke Cowan-Dickie to score and Cadan Murley followed the suit. Smith kicked both the conversions to make it 31-21.

Things just got better for the visitors as Luke Northmore scored the first of his two tries after collecting an offload from Anyanwu in the 55th minute and five minutes later he scored his second as the visitors went into the lead for the first time with a 31-35 scoreline.

Just as Exeter fought their way back through Patrick Schickerling's try, they were down to 14 players in the final 10 minutes as Ian Whitten was sin-binned for a professional foul and immediately Joe Marchant dotted down in the corner to make it 38-42.

With Harlequins eyeing a win after a remarkable comeback in the second half, Woodburn seized on the decisive final minute with an offload for Tshiunza to dot down as Exeter sealed a thrilling victory.

Team line up:

Exeter Chiefs: J Simmonds; Nowell, Slade, Whitten, Woodburn; Skinner, Townsend; Hepburn, Cowan-Dickie (capt.), Williams; Van Heerden, Gray; Ewers, Tshiunza, Capstick

Reserves: Yeandle, Kenny, Schickerling, Jenkins, S Simmonds, Maunder, O'Loughlin, Hogg

Harlequins: Green; Marchant, Northmore, Anyanwu, Murley; Smith, Gjaltema; Garcia Botta, Walker (capt.), Louw; Hammond, Herbst; Kenningham, Evans, White

Reserves: Head, Baxter, Kerrod, Lamb, Jurevicius, Care, Allan, David