Exeter Chiefs v Leicester Tigers

Exeter Chiefs kept their play-off hopes firmly alive with an emphatic win over Leicester Tigers at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in round 17 of the Gallagher PREM.

Four tries, including two from full-back Olly Woodburn, gave Chiefs the lead over a strong Tigers team before an 80th minute penalty from Henry Slade put the final nail in Leicester’s coffin.

The win marks the first time Tigers have been beaten at home in the Premthis season, and leaves everything to play for when Chiefs host fifth placed Saracens at Sandy Park next weekend.

Three minutes in, with Leicester building momentum attacking in the Chiefs 22, Orlando Bailey elected for a shot at goal to get his side on the board early with three points.

The first try of the day however was a Chiefs one. Jink-stepping his way into space in the midfield, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso linked up with Olly Woodburn running his support line in deep Leicester territory to send the full-back in for the try. Henry Slade added the conversion with a clean strike on his first attempt.

Minutes later, Slade slotted the ball accurately again, adding a penalty to the Chiefs tally. Leicester responded with five though. A chip through from Charlie Titcombe gave a good bounce of the ball for George Pearson to collect at pace, catching Feyi-Waboso on the turn to beat the Chiefs defender to the line.

Slade and Harvey Skinner combined for a try-saving tackle just shy of a half hour played but there was Leicester advantage for an offside call, so the hosts knocked over three.

In the closing stages of the half, Bailey and Slade traded penalty kicks as both added another for their respective sides, bringing the half-time score to the narrowest of gaps, the home side leading 14-13.

Chiefs were first to strike following the break. An impressive offload from Dafydd Jenkins found Tom Hooper and after a juggle for control of the ball from the Aussie, he broke through the line. Working with possession in the 22, Slade and Ethan Roots combined well to get ball to Len Ikitau who sailed across in the corner.

From scoring a try to assisting one, it was Ikitau whose offload launched Woodburn over the line for his second of the day. Key carries from the returning Greg Fisilau and Slade put Chiefs within range and when the ball found Woodburn, he didn’t need asking twice.

There was frustration for the brace-scorer though when, with a minute left until the hour mark, he was sent to the sin bin. Woodburn’s yellow card was as a result of a deliberate knock-on and while Chiefs survived the first barrage from the tap and go, replacement Olly Cracknell was able to charge his way over off the base of the scrum a couple of minutes later.

The home crowd were in strong voice when a try from close range scored by Charlie Clare took their Tigers ahead with 10 minutes left to play. With the conversion attempt wide from Bailey, there was still a chance Chiefs could come back.

Andrea Zambonin, on his way to a man of the match performance, was the man to ensure they did just that. Receiving a spiral pass from Skinner, the big Italian lock tore his way down the touchline to cross tight to the corner flag for the deciding try.

Slade’s conversion made it a seven-point score, minutes before his final act of kicking a penalty brought the game to a close.

With the result, Chiefs retain their top four position and push all hopes of a semi-final berth down to the wire in next weekend’s round 18 decider against old rivals, Saracens, in Devon.