Dominant Chiefs set up shot at the semis
OVER the years Rob Baxter has unearthed some gems at Sandy Park, but none so precious as Exeter’s latest wonderkid Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.
This time last year the 21-year-old was playing in the National Leagues with Taunton Titans. Now, he’s wreaking havoc for both Exeter and England with deadly effect.
Quins found him unplayable as Chiefs kept alive their hopes of reaching the play-offs with this seven-try success.
Feyi-Waboso claimed a double, as did fly-half Harvey Skinner, while there were also tries for Dan John, Dafydd Jenkins and Henry Slade, who was sublime with the boot, adding a further 18 points.
Louis Lynagh’s late consolation ensured Quins headed home with a crucial bonus point, but that was all they could muster after a first half that had yielded tries for Marcus Smith, Tyrone Green and Alex Dombrandt.
Returning to domestic duties after losing to Toulouse last weekend, it took two minutes for magician Smith to weave the first of his spells. Fed the ball just outside the home 22, the fly-half looked up, shimmied his hips, before picking a gap between Ethan Roots and Scott Sio to race over for the opening score, which he also converted.
It was the dream start for the visitors, but they then had to dig deep into their defensive resolve, withstanding some intense home pressure as the Chiefs looked for a riposte.
Initially Quins held firm until Slade stole over from close range after the Chiefs had gone quick from a penalty just metres from the try-line.
Parity lasted mere minutes as Quins regained the initiative when fullback Green manoeuvred himself into the midfield, exposing a numbers game that the Chiefs simply could not contain for a second converted score.
Such was the nature of this contest, however, it was not long before the Chiefs hauled themselves back into contention once more. With the hosts hammering hard in defence, Smith looked for an unlikely offload which, with no support close at hand, was snaffled up by Feyi-Waboso, who needed no second invitation as he galloped his way to the whitewash.
Like two prized fighters slugging it out, the dingdong nature of the fixture continued aplenty as first Dombrandt forced his way over for a third Harlequins try before John got in on the act at the other end, finishing off a length of the field play which featured Feyi-Waboso, Greg Fisilau and Jenkins.
Having finished the first period on the up, Exeter continued it on the resumption, claiming the lead for the first time when Skinner was able to squirm his way over for the bonus point score, which Slade converted from the left flank.
The loss of Jacques Vermeulen to the sin-bin for a professional foul threatened to disrupt the home charge momentarily, but the Chiefs survived his absence well, extending their lead through a Slade penalty bang in front of the posts.
Slade maintained his hot streak of goal-kicking, adding a 22nd successful effort on the bounce, when Quins were again pulled up for not rolling away.
The visitors were wilting in the Devon sunshine, and Slade slotted a third lengthy penalty before Feyi-Waboso added a scintillating second try, rounding off a razor-sharp Chiefs attack in the right corner.
Not to be outdone, Skinner coasted over for his second, quickly followed by skipper Jenkins, only for the visitors to have the final word when Lynagh squeezed over with virtually the last play of the game.