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| - Exeter were crowned champions of Europe for the first time on Saturday after a thrilling 31-27 win over Racing 92 in a dramatic Champions Cup final in Bristol. The Chiefs, who can complete a domestic and European double with victory in next week's Premiership final against Wasps, surged into a 14-0 lead only for Racing to pull back to within a point with 15 minutes to go. A match featuring eight tries was eventually decided when Exeter captain Joe Simmonds kicked a last-minute penalty. Victory came just 10 years after Exeter were promoted to the English top-flight with a play-off win at the same Ashton Gate ground. "It is an incredible story for these guys and the club," Exeter coach Rob Baxter told BT Sport. "It was a horrible game to watch and that last 10 minutes seemed to go on forever, but we have seen it out and it feels like it was meant to be. "I'm glad we have come through it, for all the hard work and the sacrifice the players have made. It feels like a fitting reward." There was drama at the death when problems with the stadium match clock saw referee Nigel Owens having to consult with television officials before declaring there was no time left for the French side to kick off and that the match was over. Both teams scored four tries apiece with hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, No 8 Sam Simmonds, prop Harry Williams and centre Henry Slade crossing for Exeter while Ireland's Simon Zebo crossed twice for Racing, with wing Juan Imhoff and hooker Camille Chat also going over the Chiefs' line. But Exeter's greater goalkicking accuracy -- Joe Simmonds also landed four conversions -- proving decisive as Racing, still to win the title, suffered a third Champions Cup final defeat. Exeter had to play the final nine minutes a man down after replacement Tomas Francis was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on. Racing laid siege to the Exeter line but spurned the opportunity for a drop-goal before the Chiefs relieved the pressure with a turnover from Sam Hidalgo-Clyne. Exeter's pack made their presence felt early on, with Cowan-Dickie and Sam Simmonds driven over for two typical Chiefs tries that left Exeter 14-0 ahead. Racing, having lost their two previous Champions Cup finals in 2016 and 2018, desperately needed to halt the Chiefs' momentum. They did that in the 18th minute when Russell's superb floated pass found Zebo for a fine try, although Finn Russell missed the conversion. An opportunist play from Imhoff, who scored the decisive try in Racing's semi-final win over reigning champions Saracens, brought the Paris-based club back into the match when he caught Exeter napping with a sniping break from the base of a ruck. But renewed Exeter pressure saw Racing concede a close-range line-out and it was no surprise when Williams was driven over to leave the Chiefs 21-12 up at half-time. Racing, however, demonstrated their resilience again just three minutes into the second half when quick ball allowed Zebo to score his second try. Maxime Machenaud missed the conversion but Exeter's lead was down to 21-17. Exeter scored next when Russell's high-risk game went against him after an audacious long pass deep inside his own half was picked off by Jack Nowell, who sent in fellow England international Henry Slade for a breakaway try. Racing refused to buckle at 28-17 down, with France's Chat forcing his way over in the 50th minute for a close-range try out of the Chiefs' playbook that replacement Machenaud converted. Exeter were now just four points in front with 30 minutes left. Racing pressure saw Exeter's Jonny Hill concede a penalty in front of his own posts which Machenaud kicked to leave Exeter just a point ahead before Joe Simmonds' long-range effort sealed victory. jdg/dj
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