Exeter Chiefs Women v Harlequins Women

It was a third draw in nine games as Chiefs came away with three points from their round 10 PWR visit to the Twickenham Stoop.

Despite being 14 points ahead at one point, Harlequins dug in to close the gap with multiple penalties in the last seven minutes seeing Chiefs lose three players to the sin-bin and the home side getting their score-levelling try.

Whether Quins were more frustrated for not getting the conversion that would have won them the game or Chiefs for letting the lead slip away, the neutral fan would not have cared a jot as it was one of the most exciting games seen this season.

The first score of the game came from Quins’ fit-again No 8 Aoife Wafer after a lineout catch and drive was helped along by former Chief Lizzie Hanlon.

Chiefs grabbed possession after the score and were reluctant to let it go with prop DaLeaka Menin charging down the middle of the field into Quins’ 22. She offloaded to lock Linde van der Velden who passed to centre Alex Tessier to score the try that was converted by Liv McGoverne to make it 7-7.

A penalty against Chiefs proved costly as another lineout saw Harlequins muscle towards the try-line before fly-half Ella Cromack passed to winger Lauren Torley to speed over for the five-pointer. A conversion from the touchline made the score 14-7.

A huge tackle from winger Katie Buchanan on centre Sarah Parry halted the next wave of Quins’ attack, forcing a knock-on and a Chiefs’ scrum. Chiefs passed the ball through the hands from one touchline to another with Ellen Scantlebury motoring down the right wing. As the ball went left, Menin made a dent in the defence before full-back Francesca Granzotto took it on at speed. Lock Dorothy Wall almost made it over the line before ref pulled the players back for a penalty against Quins. Tessier kicked to touch for the lineout, but Quins stole the ball and the chance was missed.

Another Chiefs lineout was more successful with lock Jake Konkel conceding a penalty straight after. The touchline was visited twice more before the drive successfully transported hooker Emily Tuttosi over the line to make it 14-14.

Granzotto then scored her first try in the PWR as she showed her pace in the wake of runs from No 8 Maddie Feaunati and Menin, and a long pass from Tessier.

But then who steps up? England’s full-back Ellie Kildunne. A dummy and a trademark curving run, on the back of a pass from fly-half Ella Cromack, split the Chiefs’ defenders and the home side were back level.

Chiefs wasted no time in returning the favour when a scrum saw Feaunati take off from the back to find the waiting hands of McGoverne who sent a long pass to Granzotto, who made important metres down the wing, before passing inside to Tessier. Scrum-half Flo Robinson then showed her speed to take her side into a 21-28 lead at half-time.

It looked like Granzotto may have scored her second when centre Gabby Cantorna kicked the ball over the try-line but it was just out of the Italian’s reach.

Chiefs did still get the next score on the board after a high ball was caught by Eilidh Sinclair, who cut through the middle before letting flanker Maisy Allen take on the charge. Wall also piled in down the centre before a neat offload from McGoverne to Flo Robinson released Alex Tessier for the first try of the half. Cantorna took the conversion while McGoverne received medical attention.

At 21-35, Chiefs looked comfortably in the lead but there was so much more drama to come with Quins refusing to lie down with as they celebrated the 100th game for their scrum-half Lucy Packer.

When Quins gained possession, they held onto it with a vice-like grip, while Chiefs racked up the penalties. When they entered Chiefs’ 22, winger Freya Aucken headed down field at speed and passed inside to Parry. One try clawed back, but McGoverne extended the lead again with a penalty.

As the game entered the final 10 minutes, Quins capitalised on a Chiefs penalty with replacement Liana Mikaele-Tu’u going over from close range. Cromack’s conversion left Chiefs with a nerve-jangling five-point lead.

Then came the endings of all endings. Quins continued to press and Chiefs continued to defend with penalties and yellow cards mounting. A try was deemed held up for Beth Wilcock as Chiefs saw their third player go to the sin-bin.

With 12 women on the pitch, the dam was bound to burst and Lagi Tuima scampered over the line to make it 38-38. Claudia Peña failed with the conversion, faced with a full-team charge-down, to miss out on the win and to hand Chiefs their third draw on the road.