Henry Slade scores 27 points as Exeter beat Harlequins at the Stoop
Last Updated: 22/02/15 12:38pm
Henry Slade contributed 27 points as Exeter beat Harlequins 32-21 in their Premiership encounter at the Stoop.
A second half try, two conversions and six penalties gave the Chiefs fly-half an impressive tally to leave Twickenham with a win - a win that keeps Exeter within touching distance of the play-offs.
The pressure on Harlequins has been piled on following the loss, as they slump to a record of just one win from the last six Premiership games.
Exeter had not won away from home since November before a vital victory at the Stoop.
Harlequins fly-half Nick Evans attempted to match his opposite number with a try, a conversion and three penalties of his own, but his 16 points was not enough to dismantle a threatening Exeter game.
It was not the greatest of starts from the Chiefs, who had lost two men to the sin bin by the 13th minute, which cost them eight early points through Evans' try and penalty, but they had taken the lead by the 22nd minute and did not relinquish it for the remainder of the game.
Chiefs No 8 Thomas Waldrom earned a yellow card of his own, but with only two minutes remaining at the time, it was of no consequence to the game.
After the opening tries there were more penalties traded by Slade and Evans, leaving the game closesly poised at 16-11 at half-time.
It was Exeter who opened the scoring in the second half with a Slade try, and two further penalties by the 60th minute meant the West Country side had all but closed the match out at 29-14 with 20 minutes remaining.
A try from outside centre Matt Hopper kept Harlequins interested up until the final whistle, but it was too late as Exeter kept their opponents scoreless for the remainder of the game.
