World News – African Confederation – Symonds hat-trick helps Exeter win

Sam Symonds scored a hat-trick as league champion Exeter Chiefs began their Premier League title defense with a comfortable win over Harlequins.

Symonds gave a great final touch solo in the first half before scoring from two rolling strokes late in the second half.

Dave Iyors and Stuart Townsend also won bonus points for the European champions.

Harlequins were only able to score a Marcus Smith singles penalty that put them ahead in the first quarter..

Although seven internationals had missed their Premier League final victory against Wasps 27 days ago, Chiefs still had a lot of strength and precision for Harlequins..

It was a tough game until Chiefs scored three out of five attempts in the past nine minutes to give the impression he was a defeat.

The brothers Joe and Sam Symonds met in the only attempt at a level playing field as the number eight found a loophole in the Queens defense midway and skipped the host’s defense, including winger Nathan Earle.

Neither side was able to fully gain the lead until the boss-like business efficiency emerged in the last quarter..

They showed all the hallmarks of outstanding defense and a steady knee that saw them win the Euro and Britain Finals in October..

The Ewers scattered on the second attempt at the start of the second half at the end of the knockout from the five-meter line.

Queens thought they had a way back when Luke Northmore went, but referee Christoph Ridley rejected his attempt to cross Alex Dumbrandt, which hampered Chiefs Center Ian Witten.

This proved to be the hosts ‘most dangerous spell as it was ultimately said for Exeter, as Symonds’ hat-trick made sure of an extra point before the scrum-half substitute for Townsend secured fifth in the final moments.

« I thought we were brave and allowed to try Luke Northmore, it might be a different match in the last 10 minutes.

« But we talked all week about discipline in the middle of the park, and in the end, we threw a lot of punishments in that area and lost ground and momentum in the end..

« In the end, thousands nearly died the way we kept giving them opportunities to kick into the corner and made us push.

“It’s very frustrating because we have come so long as a team off the field in recent weeks. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the answers tonight against the class team, and it shows that we still have a long way to go to match that..

Harlequins: brown; Earl, Northmore, Esterhuizen, Morley; Smith, Kerr; Garcia Botta, Baldwin, Lowe, Simmons, Lewis (captain), Loudaye, Evans, Dumbrandt

Exeter: Cordero; O’Flaherty, Whitten, Devoto, Woodburn; J Simmonds, Maunder; Hepburn, Yandell (Captain), Williams, Witty, Armand, Ewers, Kirsten, S. Symonds

Exeter Chiefs, Premiership Rugby, Harlequin F.. C. Rugby Union, Wasps RFC