Tigers 30 Chiefs 8

 

Leicester Tigers 30

Exeter Chiefs  8

Mark Stevens at Welford Road

They have a warning around these parts 'Beware of the Wounded Tiger'.

Having come unstuck at home to defending Aviva Premiership champions Harlequins on home soil the week previous, Leicester Tigers clearly had no intentions of suffering a similar fate as they welcome Exeter Chiefs into town.

Undone twice in the top flight by Rob Baxter's side last term, there would be no repeat this time round for the Tigers, who ran in three tries through winger Adam Thompstone, plus a further 15 points from the boot of fly-half Toby Flood.

In reply, the Chiefs countered with a first half penalty from Ignacio Mieres and a second half try from Ben White, but that would be the only bright points in a disappointing day at the office for the Devonians.

Fresh from returning to winning ways against Saracens last time out, the Chiefs made two changes to their starting line-up with England international Tom Johnson returning in place of the injured James Phillips, whilst Jason Shoemark was back for the first time since the opening day of the season as he partnered Sireli Naqelevuki in the visiting midfield.

Shoemark's return to competitive action meant the Exeter back division was re-jigged slightly with Ian Whitten reverting to the right wing at the expense of Phil Dollman, who dropped to the bench which also saw a last-minute change to their bench where summer signing Alex Brown was given his first taste of Premiership life as he came in for Chris Budgen, who was forced to head home ahead of kick-off for family reasons.

The Tigers also made changes to their ranks as they handed a debut to former London Irish star Dan Bowden in the centre, as well as a first-ever Premiership start for the lively Thompstone.  In the pack, the imposing Logovi'i Mulipola and Thomas Waldrom also returned to add some additional bulk upfront.

It was, however, the Chiefs who started brightly and opened the scoring in the second minute as Mieres dispatched a long-range penalty after the home side were pulled up for not rolling away at the tackle.

Sadly that lead proved shortlived as the Tigers hit back within five minutes, scoring their first try in over 170 minutes of action. Strong running from winger Vereniki Goneva through the heart of the Exeter rearguard created the initial opening from which Sam Harrison fed the ball wide through a series of hands to winger Thompstone, who dotted down in the right-hand corner.

England star Flood obliged with the testing touchline conversion, before landing the first of his penalties just moments later when Baxter's troops were singled out for playing the ball on the floor.

Mieres had the opportunity to cut the deficit with another penalty chance, but unfortunately his effort sailed wide of the post. Then, Whitten was bundled into touch just yards from the line after bursts from Johnson and Naqelevuki (pictured) threatened to cut open the Tigers defence.

Having survived the enemy threat, Leicester turned defence into attack and extended their lead with another Flood penalty after referee Tim Wigglesworth spotted a late charge from Exeter hooker on Tigers full-back Niall Morris as he looked to chase a high up-and-under.

A mounting penalty count was certainly proving costly for the Chiefs, who fell even further behind with the last action of the half as Flood landed his third penalty of the game.

HALF TIME:     LEICESTER TIGERS 16    EXETER CHIEFS 3

As they did in the first half, the Chiefs re-emerged with a real hunger as they again set the early tone. Good early running saw them punch their way deep inside the Tigers 22 with a series of drives but, just as they were about to pounce, a loose pass from Naqelevuki saw the chance flitter away into the distance.

The Tigers made the most of the reprieve, launching their own offensive at the other end, the effects of which were more favourable as Thompstone claimed his second converted score of the game when he was able to coast over following some sharp hands from the hosts.

Exeter appealed in vain for an obstruction on Mieres in the build-up to the try, but TV reviews went the way of the Midlanders.

The Chiefs did, however, get the nod when referee Wigglesworth went upstairs to adjudge on a possible third Leicester try through Mulipola. The Samoan international thought he was the final Tiger over the whitewash following a slick attack which went right then left, but in the process of trying to ground it, he spilt the ball under pressure from the lunging Mieres.

Sadly there would be no rescue act to Thompstone's third effort, the winger speeding onto a clever grubber kick in behind from centre Matt Smith to collect and dot down under the sticks. Flood landed the additional extras to put the Tigers firmly in command at 30-3.

Baxter threw on his bench in the latter stages in a bid to try and salvage something from the wreckage, but still the Tigers remained miserly in their defensive duties. Replacements Aly Muldowney and White (pictured) both offered something in attack, whilst the sheer presence of Naqelevuki will always cause problems for opposing sides.

The problems for the visitors, though, was that their attacking endeavours were somewhat toothless compared to previous weeks and Leicester were simply able to feed off the Exeter mistakes.

To Exeter's credit they refused to give up the pursuit of points and in a late rally their efforts were finally rewarded when White scrambled his way over from close range for his first try of the season.

Gareth Steenson's failed conversion attempt from wide on the left touchline was on target for much of it's intended flight but, a bit like the Chiefs' overall display, it slipped away at the crucial moment and the chance was lost.

For Baxter and his team, the next challenge is that of visiting Harlequins this Saturday, a fixture where an equally testing encounter awaits once more.


Tigers: N Morris; A Thompstone, M Smith, D Bowden (A Allen 50), V Goneva; T Flood (G Ford 67), S Harrison (P Phibbs 67); L Mulipola (F Balmain 67), T Youngs (J Stevens 72), D Cole (M Castrogiovanni 60); G Kitchener, G Parling; J Crane (capt, E Slater 61), J Salvi (B Deacon 12-16), T Waldrom.

Tries - Thompstone (3); Conversions - Flood (2); Penalties - Flood (3)

Chiefs: L Arscott; I Whitten, S Naqelevuki, J Shoemark (P Dollman 65), M Jess; I Mieres (G Steenson 67), H Thomas (W Chudley 51); B Sturgess (B Moon 61), C Whitehead (S Alcott 67), C Rimmer (A Brown 77); T Hayes (capt), J Hanks (A Muldowney 57); T Johnson (B White 61), J Scaysbrook, R Baxter.

Try - White; Penalty - Mieres

Referee: T Wigglesworth

Touch Judges: A Watson & P Burton

4th Official: D Pearson

Attendance: 19,292

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS v Harlequins (H), Aviva Premiership, Saturday, October 5 (3pm)