SCENES: Marcus Smith seals a thrilling win for Quins with two telling kicks
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Some Marcus Smith magic sealed a thrilling late 14-12 victory over Exeter Chiefs in a replay of last season's Final.
The Quins pivot perfectly weighted a cross-kick out to centre Andre Esterhuizen to level the scores in the latter stages of the game and converted the try to seal the win for the defending champions.
Harlequins came flying out the blocks with Luke Northmore scoring just three minutes into the game as he pounced on a kick through. Smith converted the try to give see Quins go up by seven.
Both sides wasted chances in the first half as neither side were able to take the upper hand. Exeter centre Henry Slade exploited the short side and sped past Tyrone Green to dot down out wide for the visitors after the half hour mark.
Exeter were reduced to 14-men just before halftime as Sam Simmonds and Alec Hepburn attempted a clearout at the breakdown on Joe Marler. Hepburn lifted Marler over the horizontal and drove him into the ground.
🟥 Alec Hepburn given his marching orders for this clear out on Joe Marler. #HARvEXE
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) January 8, 2022
'This is 2005 Lions tour isn't' - @ugomonye 🤕#GallagherPrem | @btsportrugby
pic.twitter.com/IcyvZteDEy
Hepburn was given his marching orders with BT Sport commentator, Ugo Moyne likening the incident to the infamous clear out on Brian O'Driscoll during the 2005 British and Irish Lions Tour.
The two sides went into the break tied seven points apiece.
Exeter broke the deadlock in the second half with Jack Innard coming up with the ball after a powerful driving maul but Joe Simmonds crucially failed to convert the try which set up a tense finish.
Harlequins worked their way into the Exeter half where Marcus Smith gambled on a cross field kick which landed perfectly into the hands of Andre Esterhuizen who scored out in the left hand corner.
SCENES AT THE STOOP!!
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) January 8, 2022
Marcus Smith 🙌
Full time: @Harlequins 14-12 @ExeterChiefs pic.twitter.com/ZpGe6Vdpuq
Smith stepped up to convert the try with the ball bouncing off the side of the post and over to hand Harlequins the victory.
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