Match Report: Chiefs 24 – 10 Tigers

A four-point win over Leicester Tigers at Sandy Park on Sunday afternoon means Exeter Chiefs complete 2025 second in the Gallagher PREM table.

Three tries scored and a further four more disallowed for Chiefs was enough to see off the competition of a dogged Tigers team who were ultimately plagued by ill-discipline and injuries.

One of the most in-form performers in the Chiefs squad, Greg Fisilau, was the first name on the scoresheet. A pop offload off the shoulder from Andrea Zambonin put the back-rower into space on the edge of the Tigers 22 and Fisilau stormed into free space and over the line for the game’s first try. Henry Slade opened his account with a successful conversion off the tee.

It wasn't long before Chiefs were back on the attack, opportunity knocked for Scott Sio and Bachuki Tchumbadze who both were within inches of the line before being brought back without being declared try-scorers.

Campbell Ridl was the one to claim the applause of the packed stadium when he eventually scored Chiefs’ second on 25-minutes played. Joseph Dweba ran onto a overthrown Tigers lineout, whipping the ball out to Fisilau. With quick recycles, Chiefs got the ball to the backs in the five-metre channel.

Olly Woodburn at full tilt offloaded to Ridl on the outside. The youngster had the nuance to chip ahead to evade the onrushing defenders. Beating his man on the touchline, Ridl carved a line back in-field, collected the bouncing ball and leapt over the line beneath the uprights. A simple kick for Slade added the extra two.

Harvey Skinner deployed a chip-and-chase of his own to break through the centre field and cross for a try minutes later. However, on TMO review, it was judged that Will Rigg had pushed a defender who was in a position to possibly prevent the try, so the points were chalked off, and Leicester were awarded a penalty instead.

The visitors moved the ball well to make quick progress downfield before Olly Cracknell broke through the line, feeding lock Cameron Henderson to finish the try. Billy Searle slotted the conversion to bring the score to 14-7 at the half.

Half-time: Chiefs 14 – 7 Tigers

Slade added three points to Chiefs’ tally in the opening stages of the second half when captain Dafydd Jenkins elected for a shot at goal from a scrum penalty in the Leicester 22.

Upon the restart from the penalty kick, Geoff Parling’s side were reduced to 14 men when replacement back-rower Sam Williams was shown a yellow card for an 'over the horizontal' dump tackle on Slade.

Skinner was robbed of a possible try for a second time on the hour mark. Having rampaged from the halfway line, he was caught by the ankles a metre out but reached for the line. After a TMO check, it was judged that Billy Searle had intervened illegally on the line and while it didn’t warrant a penalty try, the Leicester man was sent to the sin bin and his side penalised.

With nine minutes left on the clock, Chiefs’ number nine claimed a third Exeter try. Crucial work from Olly Woodburn in the aerial battle secured Chiefs ball before yet again, a Fisilau break was the catalyst. The number eight fed Stephen Varney running his support line before Slade slotted the conversion without issue.

Chiefs received a yellow card in the final 10 minutes when replacement Rusi Tuima was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle. The referee judged it to be dangerous and reckless so did not warrant mitigation but would remain just a yellow. Searle knocked over a penalty kick to take his side into double digits on the scoreboard.

Rob Baxter’s men doggedly searched for a bonus-point score with the clock in the red as, Cambell Ridl, Jimmy Roots and Will Goodrick-Clarke looked to have forced their way over the line but were ultimately deemed to be held up. And so, the Exeter men had to settle for the four points but did so knowing they were sat pretty in second place.

The next challenge is a Bath Rugby side on the rebound at the Recreation Ground next Saturday.

Full-time: Chiefs 24 – 10 Tigers

Chiefs: O Woodburn; I Feyi-Waboso, H Slade, W Rigg (Haydon-Wood 73’), C Ridl; H Skinner, S Varney; S Sio (Goodrick-Clarke 58’), J Dweba (Yeandle 58’), B Tchumbadze (J Roots 69’), D Jenkins (c), A Zambonin (Tuima 69’), T Hooper (James 60’), E Roots, G Fisilau.

Unused replacements: Chapman, John

Tries: Fisilau, Ridl, Varney Conversions: Slade 3 Penalties: Slade

Yellow card: Rusi Tuima

Tigers: F Steward; A Radwan, I Perese (Hamer-Webb 60’), S Kata (Bailey 35’), O Hassell-Collins; B Searle, T Whiteley (van Poortvliet 32’); N Smith (Haffar 63’), J Blamire (Theobald-Thomas 73’), J Heyes (Hurd 50’), C Henderson, O Chessum (c), J Moro, T Reffell (Williams 39’), O Cracknell (Thompson 50’).

Tries: Henderson Conversions: Searle Penalties: Searle

Yellow card: Sam Wiliams, Billy Searle

Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe