Chiefs 9 Tigers 21

Exeter Chiefs 9

Leicester Tigers 21

Mark Stevens at Sandy Park
Exeter Chiefs paid the price for a turgid first half display as defending Aviva Prermiership champions Leicester Tigers headed home with the points from a packed Sandy Park.

Not for the first time this season, the ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ nature of the Chiefs was again in evidence as tries from Ben Youngs and Vereniki Goneva, plus a further five points from Toby Flood, gave the visitors a comfortable 15-0 lead at the turn.

The second half, however, was a whole different story and although Rob Baxter’s side improved significantly – edging the half 9-6 in total thanks to three penalties from fly-half Gareth Steenson – the fatal damage had already been inflicted.

Afterwards, Baxter – normally so placid whatever the result – explained his fury at his team’s first half display. He knows the flaws of his side’s showing and will spend this next week drilling into his troops the importance of performing for 80 minutes, not just 40 as has been the case so often this term.

Buoyed by successive league wins over London Wasps and London Irish, the Chiefs made just one change to their line-up ahead of kick-off with Dave Ewers returning in the back-row at the expense of Ben White. The imposing No.8 was forced to sit out the trip to the Madejski Stadium the week previous with a hamstring complaint, but having recovered from that issue he was back at the base of the scrum with England international Tom Johnson back to his more favoured blindside role.

The Tigers, fresh from their own home win over Newcastle Falcons, also made a string of changes, welcoming back a wealth of talent and experience into their ranks. Those recalled were headed up by vice-captains Louis Deacon and Anthony Allen; whilst also back in from the outset were Tom Youngs, Dan Cole, Geoff Parling, Julian Salvi and Niall Morris.

And it was full-back Morris who threatened with the opening chance of the game on four minutes when he looked to touch down as Flood's clever chip over the top had the Chiefs defence scrambling for cover. Thankfully for the Chiefs the Irishman's effort was ruled out on the say-so of the TMO Geoff Warren.

That was a let-off, as was Flood's first penalty chance which he screwed wide of the mark after home lock Damian Welch had been pulled up for taking out Parling in the air at a line-out.

Leicester, though, continued to push forward and when the Chiefs conceded yet another penalty, this time England international Ben Youngs was on hand to pounce as he exposed a gap on the blindside before brushing aside the attentions of Steenson to score in the right-hand corner.

Flood again failed with the testing conversion attempt, but made amends moments later when he was on target with a second penalty chance after Jason Shoemark became the latest Chiefs player to be singled out by referee Tim Wigglesworth for a ruck indiscretion.

It was uninspiring stuff from the home side and although they improved as the half progressed, they were killing themselves in all facets of play. The Tigers seemed happy to soak up the pressure as the half drew towards a close and although the Chiefs really threatened with was a long-range penalty which Steenson drifted wide of the left post.

At 8-0, though, Baxter's side were still very much in contention - that was until the final play of the half - when a pass from Steenson fell in between Sam Hill and Phil Dollman. Sadly, neither Exeter player reacted quick enough, allowing Fijian flyer Goneva to snap up the loose ball before racing clear of the defence to score a second try which Flood duly converted.

HALF TIME EXETER CHIEFS 0 LEICESTER TIGERS 15

The Chiefs needed a rapid response on the resumption and they duly got it as Steenson reduced the deficit inside four minutes when he landed a 30-metre penalty after England and British Lions prop Cole was guilty of lazy running in midfield.

It was just what the doctor ordered for the Chiefs who, spurred by the fact they had broken their own deadlock, they preceded to lay siege on the Tigers 22 again. A series of raids saw the home side punch their towards the line, the results of which saw Tigers prop Logovi'i Mulipola deliberately take Haydn Thomas out at the base of a ruck as he looked to ship the ball away.

The Samoan forward was incredibly lucky to escape further sanction, but the resulting penalty did allow Steenson to send over his second successful kick of the afternoon.

Now with the momentum behind them, it was the Chiefs who were piling forward in pursuit of further points. Dave Lewis was introduced in place of Thomas at scrum-half and the new addition was quickly into the fray as he looked to propel Jack Yeandle and Ewers towards the Leicester line.

Leicester did well to repel the threat, but when the Chiefs claimed another shot at the target following a solid shunt at scrum time, Irishman Steenson was on hand to again land a telling blow for the Devonians.

Back within strike range, the Chiefs went in search of further success. The Tigers, though, had other ideas and having positioned themselves back inside the home half, they struck with a kick of their own as Flood punished Sturgess for dropping a scrum.

Undeterred, the Chiefs were soon back on the offensive as they threw caution to the wind. Wave upon wave of home attacks rained down on the Tigers, but they were standing firm in the face of ever increasing home pressure. It was a point underlined when they scrambled sufficiently to thwart Welch as he looked to close in on the line with just over ten minutes remaining.

It was the kind of guts and determination that wins you titles and having taken all the Chiefs could batter them with, the Tigers trotted down the other end of the field to win another penalty from which Flood could make the game safe.

The Chiefs did their best in the dying embers to try and rescue at least a bonus point, but their rivals were having none of it and professionally closed out the contest with a string of late replacements, all of which took the fizz out of Exeter’s charge.

Chiefs: P Dollman; I Whitten, J Shoemark (M Jess 57), S Hill, T James; G Steenson (H Slade 64), H Thomas (D Lewis 54); B Sturgess (B Moon 62), J Yeandle (C Whiteehad 62), H Tui (C Rimmer 64); D Mumm (capt), D Welch (T Hayes 72); T Johnson, J Scaysbrook (B White 57), D Ewers.

Penalties - Steenson (3)

Tigers: N Morris; B Scully, N Goneva, A Allen, A Thompstone; T Flood (capt), B Youngs; L Mulipola (B Stankovich 77), T Youngs (N Briggs 73), D Cole (F Balmain 78); L Deacon (J Gibson 64), G Parling (G Kitchener 49); E Slater, J Salvi, J Crane. Replacements (not used): S Harrison, O Williams, D Bowden

Tries - B Youngs, Goneva; Conversion - Flood; Penalties - Flood (3);

Referee: T Wigglesworth

Attendance: 9,524

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Gloucester (A), Aviva Premiership, Sunday, October 5 (2pm)