Exeter sacrificed wing Facundo Cordero and controlled the kicking exchanges with six backs, but the scrummaging of Marler and Collier, on his 200th Harlequins appearance, continued to trouble them.

As the final quarter began, the totemic Ewers forced a breakdown penalty and Exeter’s maul eked out another offence. All of a sudden, Chiefs were within five metres. There was a false start, with Patrick Schickerling bundled into touch, but Quins botched their own line-out and Chiefs did not pass up a second opportunity. Backs piled into a drive and Jack Innard dotted down.

The conversion faded across the face of the posts, keeping the Exeter lead at 12-7, but their kicking kept Harlequins pinned behind halfway. With five minutes left, though, Smith was presented with space in the back-field. He stepped past Slade and found Marchant with a diving pass. Smith then speared a kick towards the right wing. Louis Lynagh, on as a replacement, could not quite gather. It would prove to be a sighter.

Moments later, Smith stepped up at first-receiver once more. He aimed a more delicate chip to Esterhuizen, who completed a sliding finish. Smith, who had endured a few iffy moments, converted from the touchline. Seventy seconds remained. His personal script-writer will be continuing to compose classics into 2022, it seems.

“That shows a top-class player, to kick from the sideline with the game on the line,” Tabai Matson, Harlequins’ senior coach, said of Smith. “You don’t coach that. But it’s the execution from the whole team and him in particular [that will frustrate him]. He’ll be wanting to be way more accurate.”

Resolute until the death, Exeter were awarded a scrum from the restart. They worked the ball into midfield, the domain of Esterhuizen. His breakdown turnover was a questionable one, which incensed Sam Simmonds, but it sealed another stirring match on what may turn out to be a crucial afternoon in Harlequins’ campaign.

Match details

Scores: 5-0 Northmore try, 7-0 Smith conversion, 7-5 Slade try, 7-7 J Simmonds conversion, 7-12 Innard try, 12 Esterhuizen try, 14-12 Smith conversion. Sent off: Hepburn.

Harlequins: T Green; J Marchant, L Northmore (H Jones 60), A Esterhuizen, C Murley (L Lynagh 63); M Smith, D Care; J Marler, J Walker, W Collier (S Kerrod 60), M Symons, H Tizard (D Lamb 60), T Lawday, J Kenningham (J Chisholm 40), A Dombrandt. Replacements J Musk, S Garcia Botta, S Steele.

Exeter: S Hogg; J Nowell, H Slade, I Whitten, F Cordero (B Moon 43); J Simmonds, J Maunder (S Maunder 64); A Hepburn, J Yeandle (J Innard 52), J Iosefa-Scott (P Schickerling 60), J Gray, J Hill (S Skinner 58), D Ewers (D Armand 74), J Kirsten, S Simmonds. Replacements H Skinner, T Hendrickson.

Red card: Hepburn, 43

Referee: I Tempest (RFU).