Slade holds nerve to kick Exeter into semi-finals

Slade holds nerve to kick Exeter into semi-finalsImage source, ShutterstockImage caption, Henry Slade has scored 66 points for Exeter in the Challenge Cup this seasonPublished12 April 2026, 14:37 BSTUpdated 2 minutes agoEuropean Challenge Cup quarter-finalBenetton (24) 41Tries: N Cannone, Umaga 2, Ratave, Bernasconi Cons: Umaga 5 Pens: Umaga 2Exeter (24) 44Tries: Woodburn, penalty try, Feyi-Waboso, Skinner, Zambonin Cons: Slade 4 Pens: Slade 3Nerveless Henry Slade kicked a 79th-minute penalty against Benetton to secure Exeter a European Challenge Cup semi-final place.The England centre slotted the winning kick - his seventh out of seven - to edge out the Italians in a breathless encounter at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo.Despite Benetton dominating possession, Exeter's precise finishing kept them in a contest of 10 tries - and Slade's boot did the rest.The Chiefs will travel to Ulster for the semi-final on the weekend of 2 May.Fast-starting Benetton, who lost captain Michele Lamaro on the morning of the game after his partner went into labour, took a fifth-minute lead through a try from Italy international second row Niccolo Cannone.However, the tone of a see-saw match was set when Exeter hit straight back through veteran full-back Olly Woodburn, who took Slade's pass, to score three minutes later.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Manny Feyi-Waboso has scored seven tries in his 13 England appearancesWhen the home side pulled an advancing lineout drive down in the 16th minute, Exeter were awarded a penalty try and wing Onisi Ratave was sent to the sin-bin.But even though they were a man down, Benetton pulled the score level with the first of two tries from Jacob Umaga, after a thunderous run from Tomasso Menoncello.Manny Feyi-Waboso showed his finishing prowess to restore the lead for the Chiefs, and Slade added a penalty to stretch the advantage.But Ratave used his power to cross for his 13th try in 13 Challenge Cup games, and Umaga landed a lo...