Chiefs 19 Tigers 6

Exeter Chiefs 19

Leicester Tigers 6

By Mark Stevens at Sandy Park

It’s four years since Exeter Chiefs last got the better of Leicester Tigers, but the strides that have been made in that time were there for all to see at Sandy Park.

Rob Baxter’s ‘Class of 2015’ underlined their ever-growing promise with a workmanlike display from start to finish.

Skipper Gareth Steenson landed the killer blows for the home side, converting his own first half try to go alongside four successful penalties.

Opposite number Owen Williams countered with two penalties of his own, but it was never enough for English rugby’s most decorated club

Fresh from their 41-3 victory against the Falcons the week previous, Baxter again tinkered with his line-up for the visit of the unbeaten Tigers. Two of the changes came in the back division where there were recalls for Ian Whitten and Jack Nowell, whilst up front Alec Hepburn was handed his first-ever Premiership start when he came in as a late replacement for Ben Moon in the front-row.

The Tigers, meanwhile, were also able to parade a powerful array of talent which included starts for the Youngs brothers - Tom and Ben - as well as the inclusion of key stars such as Jordan Crane, Vereniki Goneva and newcomer Telusa Veainu.

Indeed, it was Tongan full-back Veainu who offered the game’s first real attack, fielding a Chiefs clearance from deep inside his own half and setting off on a mazy run that saw him leave a trail of home defenders trailing in his wake. Thankfully, there were enough Chiefs on hand to relieve the danger and the chance came and went in an instance.

Having survived the early advances of the Tigers, it was now the turn of the hosts to show their attacking prowess. A Slade penalty to the corner set the platform for a driving line-out which, having been taken at the tail by Armand, was driven in field by his fellow forwards. Will Chudley sniped from the ensuing ruck with promise and although he was felled just short of the line, the ball was recycled at pace to the right and there was Steenson to power his way over for the opening try, which he also converted.

Will little to choose between either side, it was the battle up front that occupied much of the first half skirmishes. Both packs were happy to slug it out with a series of power-plays, but it was the Chiefs who often looked the more dangerous.

Chance came and went in quick succession for Baxter’s side, who twice declined kickable penalty chances for the more adventurous and potentially more profitable kick to the corner. On both occasions the home side went close, but a combination of tough Tigers defence - and the occasional knock-on - meant the scoreboard remained untouched.

Seven minutes before the break the Tigers thought they had hauled themselves back into the contest when Ben Youngs sniped off the back of a ruck before releasing winger Adam Thompstone, whose clever footwork bamboozled James Short and then Phil Dollman as he squeezed over in the right-hand corner. However, in the act of dotting down in the corner, Thompstone appeared to knock the ball on and following a quick check with the TV match official, his effort was duly ruled out following a catalogue of replays.

As half time drew ever closer, Steenson traded penalties with opposite number Williams, before Steenson restored Exeter’s 10-point buffer right on the stroke of half time when the visitors were penalised for going off their feet at a ruck midway inside their own half.

HALF TIME EXETER CHIEFS 13 LEICESTER TIGERS 3

After such an impressive first 40, the Chiefs were looking to build on their advantage as they started the second half. However, there cause was dealt an early blow when full-back Dollman was forced off the field with a knock sustained earlier in the contest.

As it was, Matt Jess - who last week celebrated his 100th Premiership appearance for the Devon club - replaced the Welshman, meaning a quick re-jig of the back three with Nowell reverting to the anchor slot and Jess in his more traditional wing role.

Not that it took the ‘Heamoor Flyer’ long to get stuck into the action as he just missed out on a clever cross-field kick from Steenson after the home pack had again driven forward in numbers to get them on the front foot.

At the other end, the Tigers responded in kind with a lengthy spell of pressure inside the Exeter half, but the home defences were proving tough to break down as a series of attacks were met with fierce resistance from Baxter’s braves.

The Leicester pressure, though, was mounting and having themselves declined earlier opportunities to kick for goal, they finally opted for the sticks just past the hour mark and Williams made no mistake, drilling a sweet kick between the posts to cut the deficit to just a converted score.

Within a minute, the Chiefs had the chance to register their first points of the half when Tigers flanker Lachlan McCaffrey was pulled up for not retreating from a ruck. On this occasion, however, Exeter could not capitalise as Slade pulled his long-range effort wide of the near post.

Undeterred, the Chiefs continued to press forward in attack and with Ewers leading the charge - one offload was simply sublime - they again positioned themselves to within inches of the visiting line. However, just as they looked to strike, a crucial turnover saw possession conceded and the moment was lost.

The Tigers could not capitalise and they were themselves punished just moments later when the Exeter front-row did a number on their Leicester counterparts to win a penalty that Steenson duly dispatched with ease.

Now with the 10-point cushion again, the Chiefs went in search of the Tigers jugular. A rampaging run from the outstanding Hepburn saw him combine with Chudley to again position the home side within touching distance of the line - and although the hosts thought they had claimed a second try of the night through Nowell, again the officials saw the need to review the situation.

Referee Garner again consulted with Geoff Warren as to exactly what had happened - the results of which were Leicester replacement Riccardo Brugnara was dispatched to the sin-bin for kicking out at Jack Yeandle - and Steenson was on hand to land his fourth penalty of the night.

With the Chiefs now set to venture back into Europe’s top competition, the Champions Cup, it’s off to Swansea next Sunday where the Ospreys lie in wait.
Chiefs: P Dollman (M Jess 46); J Nowell, H Slade, I Whitten, J Short (S Hill 57); G Steenson (capt), W Chudley; A Hepburn (C Rimmer 76), L Cowan-Dickie (J Yeandle 72), T Francis (M Low 75); M Lees, D Welch; D Ewers (T Waldrom 37-40), J Salvi (T Waldrom 63, O Atkins 76), D Armand. Replacement (not used): D Lewis.

Try - Steenson; Conversion - Steenson; Penalties - Steenson (4)

Tigers: T Veainu; A Thompstone (F Balmain 79), M Smith, S Bai (P Betham 48), V Goneva (M Tait 61); O Williams, B Youngs (J Kitto 63); F Balmain (R Brugnara 56), T Youngs (capt, H Thacker 75), D Cole (T Pasquali 75); D Barrow, S De Chaves (L Pearce 56); T Croft (M Fitzgerald h/t). L McCaffrey, J Crane.

Penalties - Williams (2)

Yellow Card: Brugnara

Referee: G Garner

Attendance: 10,102