Last minute drama as Chiefs beat Leicester

Try in 80th minute

A minute's silence to honour the late queen was honoured perfectly after Exeter Chief's chaplain read a prayer.

And after a rendition of God Save the King, the Chiefs - in their new branding - started battle against Leicester Tigers.

First blood was drawn almost instantly, as a Leicester player didn't roll away after bringing down an attack sparked by full-back Joe Simmonds, playing in the number 15 jersey, rather than his traditional 10.  

Shortly after, Exeter's new centre Solomone Kata scooped up a long lineout, but the Tigers were immediately over the ball to win a penalty.

Twenty minutes in, an interception from Chiefs' fly-half Harvey Skinner looked like it could be converted into a try, but he lost his kick-and-chase to Freddie Burns. However, after a TMO check, the referee decided that Burns had deliberately knocked the ball out. He received a yellow card. Exeter  were gifted a bonus try.

After a penalty score for Leicester, Exeter responded perfectly with a debut score for Solomone Kata just before half-time. The move started with a spectacular kick and chase from Exeter winger Olly Woodburn, followed by fluent play which created an overlap on the right and the try. The subsequent conversion by Joe Simmonds brought the score to 17-6 to Exeter at half time.

After the break Joe Simmonds was charged down, falling perfectly for an easy run in from Leicester captain Hanro Lieberberg. Gopperth calmly converted the kick from right in front of the posts in place of Freddie Burns, who had to be taken off for injury at half-time. 

Strong defence from the Chiefs originally forced Leicester back 20 metres, but a penalty was awarded and the ref had a word about Exeter's repeated penalties. The Tigers used their penalty to create a lineout maul close to the try line, which was too strong to stopped. Leicester hooker Charlie Clare touched down, with Gopperth converting.

A try from the Chiefs started by back-row Dave Ewers and finished a couple of phases later by lock Dave Schickerling was chalked off following a TMO check revealing a knock-on by Exeter replacement Jack Maunder. But then the TMO looked more closely at the passage of play, Exeter were awarded a penalty for a high tackle. Sadly it came to nothing.

After 20 minutes on the back foot, and being unable to force the ball past a determined Tigers defence, with the last action of the game Schickerling  plowed past the try line, this time with no hold up.

A game that looked like it would end in frustration instead ended in jubilation.

Final score 24-20 to Exeter Chiefs.

Line-ups.

Exeter Chiefs Starting 15 :

Joe Simmonds, Jack Nowell, Ian Whitten, Solomone Kata, Olly Woodburn, Harvey Skinner, Stu Townsend, Alec Hepburn, Jack Yeandle (C), Marcus Street, Jack Dunne, Jonny Gray, Jannes Kirsten, Christ Tshiunza, Richard Capstick

Replacements :

Jack Innard, James Kenny, Patrick Schickerling, Ruben Van Heerden, Dave Ewers, Jack Maunder, Rory O'Laughlin, Facundo Cordero

Leicester Tigers Starting 15 :

Chris Ashton, Harry Potter, Matt Scott, Jimmy Gopperth, Hosea Saumaki, Freddie Burns, Ben Youngs, James Cronin, Charlie Clare, Dan Cole, Harry Wells, Eli Snyman, George Martin, Tommy Reffell, Hanro Lieberberg (C)

Replacements:

Joe Taufete'e, Francois Van Wyk, Will Hurd, Cameron Henderson, Olly Cracknell, Richard Wigglesworth, Phil Cokanasinga, Kini Murimurivalu