Harlequins edge Exeter in nine-try Premiership thriller at Sandy Park
Harlequins beat Exeter Chiefs in a nine-try Premiership match at Sandy Park on 31 October 2026, securing consecutive league wins for the first time this season. The visitors held on after late exchanges to claim the victory when they managed to kick the ball into touch with time in the red.
Quins raced into an early lead through Cadan Murley and Nick David before Exeter responded, with Harry Wilson, Nika Abuladze and Will Butt crossing during a contest that produced five tries for Harlequins and four for the home side. The conversion tally read Slade 4 and Marcus Smith 3. Lucas Schmid’s two close-range efforts in the second half were decisive, while Jack Kenningham and Olly Woodburn traded late scores that set up a tense finish.
The visitors struck first following a knock-on from the returning Manny Feyi-Waboso; Murley linked with George Furbank, who carried up the wing, and Marcus Smith then fed Murley to touch down. That opening try was one of Quins’ five on the day.
Harlequins extended their lead when Luke Northmore’s delayed run created space and the centre released the returning Nick David to score despite opposition cover from Woodburn. Exeter eventually replied when Wilson, from a quick pick-and-go after work from Abuladze, drove over to get the hosts on the scoreboard.
Exeter, having a period with a man advantage after Bryn Bradley’s yellow card, forced parity before half-time through Abuladze, and then went ahead when Will Butt broke clear following a missed tackle by Marcus Smith in midfield. Quins responded in the second half as Schmid forced his way over to level and then scored again minutes later.
Quins’ second-half scores followed strong carries from Sam Riley and Luke Northmore, which helped drive the visitors into Exeter’s 22 until the ball was recycled wide and Schmid finished in the corner. Late efforts from Kenningham and Woodburn left Exeter three points adrift, but a lost lineout with the clock in the red allowed Harlequins to kick for touch and see out the win, their second league victory of the season.
Exeter’s starting XV was Haydon-Wood; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Butt, Woodburn; Skinner, Varney; Abuladze, Yeandle (c), Iosefa-Scott; Pearson, Wilson, Roots, Vintcent, Fisilau, with replacements Norey, Goodrick-Clarke, Tchumbadze, Bailey, James, Wolstenholme, Hammersley and Wimbush. Harlequins named Furbank; David, Northmore, Bradley, Murley (c); Smith, Porter; Baxter, Walker, Kerrod; Dun, Treadwell, Kenningham, Driscoll, Schmid, with Riley, Hobson, Streeter, Williams, Browne, Evans, Friday and Isgro on the bench.
The victory extended Harlequins’ winning run to two matches and represented only their second league win of the season.