Tigers 20 Chiefs 13
Leicester Tigers 20
Exeter Chiefs 10
Mark Stevens at Welford Road
Gareth Steenson rescued a losing bonus point for Exeter Chiefs as the defending Aviva Premiership champions suffered a second bout of travel sickness this season at the hands of Leicester Tigers.
With the clock up and the visitors staring at a pointless afternoon in the East Midlands, the ever-reliable Irishman was able to dispatch a crucial penalty to at least salvage something from a tough day at the office for Rob Baxter’s side.
For the Tigers, though, it was a third successive top flight victory and saw them move up to fifth in the standings, four points adrift of next best Chiefs, whose other points came courtesy of a penalty try and another Steenson penalty in the first half.
Leicester’s latest victory was assured through tries from wingers Nick Malouf and Jonny May, while England international George Ford weighed in with the remainder of the points, including a sublime first half drop-goal.
Ahead of kick-off, the Chiefs arrived at Welford Road looking to build on their recent run of form, which had seen them collect maximum reward in their last three fixtures. Victories over London Irish, Worcester Warriors and Wasps had put Baxter’s side top of the pile heading into round five and they were looking to continue that with a fast start against the Tigers.
However, Baxter was forced into a late change when England and British Lions winger Jack Nowell was ruled out of the action due to a dead leg. His absence meant Lachie Turner was switched to the left wing with Phil Dollman promoted to full-back having initially been pencilled into start the game on the bench.
The Tigers too were forced into change with England international Ellis Genge pulling up in the warm-up, so former Chiefs player Greg Bateman got the nod for kick-off, while Chris Baumann and Kyle Traynor were added to the bench after Logo Mulipola was also ruled out.
Looking to pick up from where they had left off against Wasps, the Chiefs were quickly into their attacking stride in front of the biggest crowd of the season so far at Welford Road. Aussie international Dave Dennis sounded the Devonians intent, producing two huge early carries that had the Tigers scrambling in defence.
Further pressure continued from Baxter’s side before they edged in front on five minutes when England scrum-half Ben Youngs was penalised by referee Tom Foley for illegally entering a ruck midway inside his own half. It allowed Steenson his first shot at the target and the Dungannon-born marksman made the most of the opportunity, bisecting the posts with a sweetly delivered right foot punt.
The Chiefs continued to hold the great threat during the opening quarter with both Steenson and Stu Townsend, who was making his first start of the season, both threatening with raids deep inside the home 22. The Tigers, though, were proving miserly in defence, soaking up the pressure despite some heavy bombardment from the visitors.
Welsh international Tomas Francis continued the Exeter charge, showing a clean pair of heels to the home defenders, before he was eventually gobbled up by the hosts.
Although the Chiefs were bossing possession and territory, they could not make their advantage tell and when they lost former Tigers flanker Julian Salvi to the sin-bin for a no-arm tackle, it allowed Leicester to finally get a foothold into the contest.
Centre Henry Slade did well to track back when Tongan flyer Telusa Veainu broke clear, leaving a trail of Exeter defenders on the floor, but the Exeter playmaker could do nothing to prevent Leicester from claiming the game’s opening try on 25 minutes when the Midlanders exposed the numbers game out wide to send Aussie winger Malouf over in the right corner.
Ford landed a sublime touchline conversion before extending Leicester’s lead just before the break with a well-crafted drop-goal, the playmaker dropping back into the pocket after the Chiefs had swamped numerous attacking phases from the Tigers.
The only other talking point of the half related to how Malouf failed to see at least a yellow card when he appeared to take Dollman out in the air on the halfway line. The officials - using video evidence - deemed it nothing more than a late charge.
HALF TIME LEICESTER TIGERS 10 EXETER CHIEFS 3
During the break the weather took a turn for the worse as the little drizzle of the first period now turned to a more concerted downpour, making handling conditions all the more difficult for both sides.
The early skirmishes proved frantic enough as the battle for both possession and territory intensified, but it was the Tigers who were afforded the first chance of the half when Ben Moon was pulled up for a no-arms tackle. It allowed Ford his first penalty of the afternoon and the Tigers No.10 - now in his second stint with the club - did not disappoint, landing a 40-metre effort with aplomb.
Almost immediately the Chiefs were handed an attacking chance of their own when the Tigers fell foul of referee Foley for a high tackle, but they failed to make the most of a penalty to the corner. Dennis spilling the ball under pressure as the visitors looked to press home their tried-and-trusted five-metre drive.
Afforded another chance just minutes later, the Chiefs again opted for the corner as Slade drilled the kick to within five metres. The initial thrust from the forward, led by Alec Hepburn - making his first Premiership appearance in almost a year - was repelled. It came wide, through the hands of Slade, Woodburn and Dollman, the latter of whom’s pass was batted down illegally by Veainu.
The home full-back was duly dispatched to the cooler for ten minutes, the Chiefs meanwhile were rewarded with the penaltry try.
Back within touching distance - and now with a man advantage momentarily - the visitors entered into the final quarter with the bit between their teeth.
Again, Malouf somehow escaped punishment from Foley when he appeared to try and trip Woodburn on the burst. The Chiefs management were left a little perplexed, but on the field the ‘Men in White’ continued to press hard, using another penalty to get within sight of the home line.
Once more, the line-out misfired, much to the delight of the home fans, who had further reason to cheer when Bateman fly hacked a clearance down field, sparking a foot race which was eventually won by Woodburn.
The Chiefs, though, could do nothing when the Tigers threatened again. Using the forwards to set up camp deep inside the Exeter half, the home side worked the ball cleverly from right to left, creating the time and space for summer signing May to slide his way over in the left corner for the converted score.
Ten points adrift with as many minutes left, the Chiefs now had it all to do in their attempts to salvage something from the game. Successive penalties allowed Baxter’s side to get back to within five metres of the home line, but again inaccuracy came to bite the champions on the backside, replacement Elvis Taione wobbling the set-piece throw too far on his own side.
It would be too easy to say the Chiefs were killing themselves, but from the subsequent scrum Hepburn was adjudged to have dropped his bind, gifting Ford the chance to clear the danger for the Tigers.
It would get no better as the game entered into it’s dying embers, a series of handling errors merely highlighting a frustrating day at the office for Baxter’s side. That was until, two minutes from time, another strong carry from Woodburn forced a penalty from the host. Unlike previous occasions, Steenson opted for the posts.
Five metres in from the right flank, the Irishman stepped forward to deliver the kick, which under the hush of the late hour, cannoned back off the near post. It kind of summed up a miserable afternoon for the champions who, with the very last play of the game, at least salvaged something from the hard day at the office when Steenson landed a second penalty with the very last kick of the game.
It’s back to Devon for the Chiefs, who must now ready themselves for an equally testing encounter against table-topping Newcastle Falcons in a week’s time.
Tigers: T Veainu; N Malouf, M Smith (M Tait 68), M Toomua, J May; G Ford, B Youngs (S Harrison 68); G Bateman (K Traynor 80), T Youngs (capt, G McGuigan 63), D Cole; H Wells (B Youngs 71), D Barrow; M Williams (V Mapapalangi 65), L Hamilton (B O’Connor 58), S Kalamafoni. Replacements (not used): C Baumann, J Ford
Tries - Malouf, May; Conversions - G Ford (2); Penalty - G Ford; Drop-Goal - G Ford
Yellow Card: Veainu
Chiefs: P Dollman (M Bodilly 69); L Turner, H Slade, I Whitten, O Woodburn; G Steenson, S Townsend (W Chudley 65); B Moon (A Hepburn 53), J Yeandle (capt, E Taione 65), T Francis (H Williams 53); M Lees, J Hill; D Dennis (S Skinner 65), J Salvi (M Kvesic 59), D Armand. Replacement (not used): T Hendrickson
Try - Penalty Try; Conversion - Penalty Try; Penalties - Steenson (2)
Yellow Card: Salvi
Referee: T Foley
Attendance: 23,018