Exeter Claims Victory Over Benetton with Slade's Winning Penalty

In a nail-biting finish, Henry Slade's late penalty secured Exeter's 44-41 win over Benetton, setting up a semi-final showdown against Ulster in Belfast. Initially, Jacob Umaga's try gave Benetton a 41-38 lead with 15 minutes remaining, but Slade's penalty leveled the score four minutes later, and he sealed the victory with another penalty in the 78th minute, sparking outrage among the home crowd. The first half was marked by a frenetic pace, with Exeter taking a 14-7 lead thanks to Olly Woodburn's score and a penalty try. They further extended their lead to 24-14 after Immanuel Feyi-Waboso's try and Slade's conversion and penalty. However, the hosts drew level at halftime following an impressive try by Onisi Ratave, accompanied by a conversion and penalty from Umaga. Exeter regained the lead in the second half with Harvey Skinner's converted try, only for Bautista Bernasconi to level the score for Benetton. The visitors took a 38-31 lead when Andrea Zambonin scored in the 48th minute, but Umaga's penalty and subsequent try, which he converted, gave Benetton their first lead since the eighth minute. Ultimately, Slade's decisive kick decided the outcome. In another match, Bordeaux defeated Toulouse 30-15 to advance to the semi-finals against Bath. Despite Toulouse's strong start, Bordeaux's defense held strong, and Maxime Lamothe's try in the 23rd minute put them on the board. Toulouse responded immediately, but a red card given to Dorian Aldegheri for a high-danger challenge late in the first half impacted the game's momentum. Toulouse took the lead into halftime, but Bordeaux fought back in the second half. Matthieu Jalibert's try and Ben Tameifuna's score, combined with Maxime Lucu's penalty, gave Bordeaux control of the match. Arthur Retiere's try and Lucu's subsequent penalty sealed the win for Bordeaux, ending any hopes of a Toulouse comeback.