Harlequins 33 Exeter Braves 25

Harlequins 33

Exeter Braves 25


Mark Stevens at the Twickenham Stoop

Exeter Braves' hopes of defending their Aviva Premiership A League crown were dealt an untimely blow in the nation's capital as they were undone 33-25 by Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop.

Tries from Seb Smith, Jacob Burns and Will Skinner, plus 18 points from the boot of centre Ben Botica, proved sufficient enough for Quins' to not only maintain their lead at the top of the Southern Section, but at the same avenge last season's final defeat by their Devon visitors.

The Braves, however, played their part in an entertaining encounter and were at least able to head back home with a number of highlights, including tries for Dean Mumm, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Aron Struminski, whilst fly-half Henry Slade weighed in with a further 10 points.

Fresh from their impressive 54-3 victory over London Welsh, the Braves made four changes to their starting XV from that which took to the field at Sandy Park a week ago.

Two of the changes came in the pack where Will Carrick-Smith and Justin Blanchet were included in place of Aly Muldowney and the injured Kai Horstmann; whilst behind there were starts for Junior Poluleuligaga and Jack Nowell in place of Kevin Barrett and Aron Struminski.

Harlequins, meanwhile, also fielded a powerful array of talent within their ranks with the likes of Botica, Tom Casson and Rory Clegg in their back division - and Mark Lambert, Dave Ward, Luke Wallace and skipper Will Skinner parading up front.

And it was Botica, the son of former All Black Frano Botica, who slotted the home side into a first-minute lead after the Braves were pulled up by referee Matt Carley for infringing at a ruck.

The home lead was to prove shortlived as within five minutes parity was restored when Exeter fly-half Slade dispatched a kick of his own from 25 metres out.

Sadly Slade could not repeat the feat when he was offered a second chance moments later, this after the home side were adjudged not to have released at the tackle. On this occasion the England Under-20s starlet floated his effort wide of the mark.

The Londoners made the most of the let-off and regained the lead on 15 minutes when centre Botica fired over his second penalty of the night after the Braves fell foul of referee Carley yet again.

A mounting penalty count was rapidly creeping up against the visitors - and although Botica failed with once chance, he added two more penalties - the second of which saw Exeter lock Carrick-Smith sent to the sin-bin - to stretch his side's lead to 12-3.

With Exeter still a man light at the start of the second period, Harlequins made their numerical advantage tell as a clever attacking move created the ideal overlap for winger Sam Smith to race over in the left-hand corner for the opening try of the night, which Botica duly converted with an excellent touchline kick.

Up against it, the Braves - now back to their full compliment - dug deep in search of a response. A clever breakout saw them gain good yardage down field - and when they won a line-out deep inside the home 22, the pack combined as one to drive Aussie newcomer Mumm over for his first-ever points in Exeter colours. Slade duly added the extras.

It was just the lift the visitors needed in terms of staging a fightback. However, no sooner had they got themselves back within striking range, they were caught with a deadly sucker punch from their capital hosts. Strong running from Charlie Walker and former Pirates hooker Dave Ward propelled them to within inches of the line - from which scrum-half Burns was able to snipe over for a second converted score.

Slade countered with a second Exeter penalty, but was then unable to convert a second Braves try which came on 66 minutes when replacement prop Luke Cowan-Dickie was the beneficiary of yet another excellent line-out drive.

With both sides willing to attack at every opportunity, the offensive slug fest continued apace and it was Harlequins who added to their tally when skipper Skinner was able to go over from close range, following a sustained spell of home pressure.

To their credit, the Braves refused to throw in the towel and in a spirited last throw of the dice, the pack drove forward in numbers, before the ball was spun back to Slade, whose sublime cross-field kick fell invitingly into the arms of the onrushing Struminski.

Slade plundered the touchline kick with aplomb, but sadly it was all a little too late for the visitors.

Harlequins: O Lindsay-Hague; M Mantella, T Casson (C Walker 54), B Botica, S Smith; R Clegg, J Burns; M Lambert (D Marfo 64), D Ward, W Collier (K Sinckler 60); S Twomey (C Matthews 64), P Browne; L Wallace, W Skinner (capt), J Trayfoot (J Clifford 64).

Tries - Smith, Burns, Skinner; Conversions - Botica (3); Penalties - Botica (4)

Braves: M Pope (D O'Reilly 76); J Arnott (A Struminski 52), J Nowell, N Sestaret, M Foster; H Slade, J Poluleuligaga (capt, K Barrett h/t); B Moon (L Cowan-Dickie 26), N Clark (J Yeandle 49), A Brown (L Fairbrother 64); W Carrick-Smith, D Welch; D Mumm (S Simmonds 61), J Blanchet, D Ewers

Tries - Mumm, L Cowan-Dickie, Struminski; Conversions - Slade (2); Penalties - Slade (2)

Referee: M Carley