Evans try double for Quins as Exeter suffer record losing streak
Will Evans' three tries this season have come against the bottom two teams in the Premiership
- Published
Gallagher Premiership
Exeter (14) 19
Tries: Vintcent, Rigg, Hammersley Cons: Slade 2
Harlequins (19) 36
Tries: Beard, Isgro, W Evans 2, Murley Cons: J Evans 4 Pens: J Evans
Will Evans scored two tries as Harlequins beat Exeter to inflict a record sixth-successive Premiership loss on the Chiefs.
The flanker helped the visitors take advantage of a porous Exeter defence to score three tries after 25 minutes - with more chances missed - but the hosts fought back as debutant Will Rigg crossed to cut the gap to five points at the break.
Both sides had tries disallowed after replays early in the second half, before Evans added to Quins' tally, only for Ben Hammersley to respond soon after.
Jarrod Evans' penalty extended the gap to 10 points with 15 minutes left before Cadan Murley's try in the final minute as Harlequins won the battle at the breakdown.
It sealed their first win at Sandy Park in 10 years to move up to fifth in the table.
Exeter, who have not won a game since they beat Quins 58-26 in the corresponding fixture in the penultimate round of last season, remain second from bottom - by virtue of their five losing bonus points - one place above Newcastle, who ended their 25-game losing run against the Chiefs last week.
Exeter have never lost six successive matches in a single season since they were promoted to the top flight in 2010.
England centre played 54 minutes for Exeter - his first action since shoulder surgery following the summer tour to New Zealand
Quins came into the game without England stars Marcus Smith, Alex Dombrandt and Fin Baxter, while their national team counterpart Henry Slade played for the first time since England's loss to the All Blacks in Auckland in the Exeter midfield.
Harlequins started superbly, and but for two try-saving tackles would have been two tries up inside the first 10 minutes - debutant Rigg stopping Will Evans in the second minute before an excellent tap tackle from Olly Woodburn felled Oscar Beard after Tyrone Green's excellent defence-splitting run.
But their pressure eventually told when Beard went over as Exeter slipped off tackles - but immediately from the restart the hosts replied as a wonderful series of attacking phases ended with Woodburn setting Ross Vintcent free for his first try of the season.
Just two minutes later Isgro powered his way over in the right corner for his third try in two Quins appearances as Exeter's defence again floundered. Their poor tackling was then exposed for Will Evans' try as he cruised through the midfield after Jack Kenningham had been held up over the line by Rig following a Lennox Anyanwu break.
Despite the visiting side's dominance, when Exeter had the ball they looked dangerous. Rigg took advantage of a tremendous pick-up by Josh Hodge to put the former Coventry man in towards the end of the half as Exeter somehow went into the interval still in touch with Danny Wilson's side.
Exeter started the second half as Quins had started the first – Paul Brown-Bampoe forced into touch as he went for the left corner on the opening minute of the half and soon after kept Quins out from a five-metre line-out to boost their fragile defensive confidence.
Exeter got a further boost when a wonderful kick-pass from Isgro found Green who went in under the posts only for it to be disallowed for a forward pass in the build up.
Quins did get the bonus point try 13 minutes into the second half as Will Evans got his second after pressure at the breakdown, but Exeter replied within four minutes as Hodge's superb footwork opened the door for Hammersley to score his first Premiership try for the club.
Murley had a try chalked off for a foot in touch with 15 minutes left, but an infringement in the build-up saw Jarrod Evans kick over a simple penalty to extend the lead to 10 points.
Exeter tried their best to get a fourth try, but Harlequins stood firm and got a fifth try of their own that their play throughout the game probably deserved.
Replacement Danny Care got away down the left wing and kicked on for Murley to touch down.
Exeter: Hodge; Woodburn, Slade, Rigg, Brown-Bampoe; Haydon-Wood, Becconsall; Sio (capt), Frost, Painter, Molina, Capstick, Vintcent, Vermeulen, Fisilau.
Replacements: Yeandle, Goodrick-Clarke, Street, Tuima, Roots, Townsend, Skinner, Hammersley.
Harlequins: Green; Isgro, Beard, Anyanwu, Murley; J Evans, Porter; Els, Walker, Lamositele, Herbst, Lewies, Kenningham, W Evans, Chisholm.
Replacements: Jibulu, Jones, Kerrod, Launchbury, Lawday, Care, Benson, David.
Referee: Adam Leal
