Harlequins earn last-gasp win over leaders Exeter, Sarries battle back

Harlequins scored a penalty try six minutes into added time to earn an extraordinary 34-30 home win over Premiership leaders Exeter Chiefs.

Trailing by three with a one-man advantage after a yellow card for Ollie Devoto, the hosts were applying the pressure at The Stoop before they were handed the try after being awarded a string of penalties.

Quins had earlier scored through Paul Lasike, Tevita Cavubati and Marcus Smith, but a quickfire double from Exeter fly-half Joe Simmonds, who ended the match with 25 points, had put the visitors on the brink of victory.

Phil Dollman was the other try-scorer for Exeter, whose lead over Sale, winners at Gloucester on Friday, now sits at five points. Quins, meanwhile, are up to sixth and only trail the top four by two.

S C E N E S ! #COYQ pic.twitter.com/9WDD3pXjns

— Harlequins  (@Harlequins) February 29, 2020

Elsewhere on Saturday, Saracens recovered from a nightmare start to win 27-21 at third-placed Northampton Saints.

Fraser Dingwall and Harry Mallinder scored in the first six minutes as the hosts earned the first 12 points of the contest.

Rotimi Segun made a swift response for Sarries, who were bidding to bounce back from a humbling loss to Wasps last time out.

And the visitors turned the game around when they seized on a two-man advantage shortly after half-time. With Taqele Naiyaravoro and Lewis Bean in the sin-bin, Jack Singleton and Nick Tompkins dotted down.

Ben Earl later added another try and a bad day for Saints got worse with Wales international Dan Biggar leaving the field with a knee injury in the second half.

That’s how you show fight.#TogetherSaracens  #NORvSAR pic.twitter.com/l4Z2grkmgq

— Saracens Rugby Club (@Saracens) February 29, 2020

Leicester Tigers moved to within a point of fellow strugglers Worcester Warriors with a 14-8 home win.

The two teams only managed one try apiece, Jordan Olowofela replying after Perry Humphreys had put Worcester in front against his former club.

With the match 8-8 at the interval, Johnny McPhillips scored two of his three penalties in the second half.

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