Slade's Last-Minute Heroics Propel Exeter Chiefs Past Benetton in Thrilling Clash
Henry Slade clinched a dramatic victory for Exeter Chiefs, scoring a 79th-minute penalty to secure a 44-41 win over Benetton in the Challenge Cup quarter-final on April 25. Slade's flawless kicking, making it seven out of seven, proved pivotal in a high-scoring, action-packed encounter at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo. Despite Benetton controlling possession, Exeter's efficiency in front of the posts kept them competitive in a match that featured 10 tries. The Chiefs now advance to face Ulster in the semi-finals on Saturday, May 2. The match began with Niccolo Cannone scoring for Benetton just five minutes in. However, Exeter responded swiftly with a try from veteran full-back Olly Woodburn following a pass from Slade. A penalty try was awarded to Exeter after a lineout infringement by Benetton, leading to Onisi Ratave being sin-binned. Benetton equalized through Jacob Umaga, who scored two tries, while Manny Feyi-Waboso and Slade added to Exeter's tally. Despite being down a player, Benetton kept pace, with Ratave scoring and Umaga leveling the score at 24-24 by halftime. The second half saw a flurry of tries from both sides, with Harvey Skinner and Andrea Zambonin scoring for Exeter, and Bautista Bernasconi responding for Benetton. As the match wore on, Umaga's penalties gave Benetton a late lead. In the closing moments, Slade's long-range kick brought Exeter back to parity before his decisive penalty sealed the victory. Rob Baxter, Exeter's director of rugby, praised his team's resilience, emphasizing their ability to seize critical moments throughout the match.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-04-12