Exeter Claims Thrilling Victory Over Benetton with Slade's Winning Penalty

In a nail-biting finish, Henry Slade's penalty kick secured Exeter's 44-41 victory over Benetton, setting up a Challenge Cup semi-final against Ulster. The hosts had taken a 41-38 lead with Jacob Umaga's try, but Slade's leveler and subsequent winner sparked furious reactions from the home crowd. The first half was a frenzy of scoring, with Exeter leading 14-7 and 24-14 before Benetton leveled at the break. The second half saw multiple lead changes, with Harvey Skinner, Bautista Bernasconi, and Andrea Zambonin all making significant contributions. Meanwhile, in another quarter-final match, Bordeaux defeated Toulouse 30-15 to advance to the semi-finals against Bath. Bordeaux's defense held strong despite Toulouse's strong start, and Maxime Lamothe's try in the 23rd minute marked a turning point. The match was marked by a red card for Dorian Aldegheri and a yellow card for Antoine Dupont, as Bordeaux rallied with tries from Matthieu Jalibert, Ben Tameifuna, and Arthur Retiere to seal their victory.