Christmas comes early for Chiefs

In front of largest Sandy Park crowd ever

After coming back from a thrilling last-minute win in the European Champions Cup last week, Sandy Park welcomed its largest ever crowd for a return to Premiership action.

And just like the last game, it was full of action, and another game that didn't disappoint.

With early tries from Chiefs’ Jacques Vermeulen and Henry Slade, together with a penalty try, Leicester tried to fight their way back into the game.

Flanker Vermeulen gave the Chiefs the initial lead. which was converted by centre Henry Slade, the league's top scorer this season. Not long after, Tigers' lock George Martin received a card he didn't want for Christmas, a yellow one for tackling a player off the ball.

Worse for the visitors, his action resulted in a penalty try, bringing Chiefs to 14-0 up after just 15 minutes.  

At the end of the first half, Slade latched onto a loose ball to score one of the simplest tries.

More Christmas cheer for the Sandy Park crowd when the referee got taken off his feet by Leicester fullback Freddie Steward. A legless ref, and it's not even Christmas Eve.

When Slade put three more points on the board, choosing to kick rather than go for the corner, the game was looking doomed for Leicester. But  winger Anthony Watson did touch down, a try that went unconverted, and Exeter were giving the ball away too easily and not looking like scoring again.

Leicester slowly got their way back into the game; their first try shunting them up a gear. They managed another five points when Freddie Steward on the wing found himself completely unmarked. 

Chiefs were pushing themselves further up the pitch, but Leicester’s Tom Whiteley and Chiefs’ Ross Vincent had a little tussle on the pitch, and a penalty was gifted to the Chiefs.  

With the game past the 80-minute mark, the game was set and done in the Chiefs' favour, but with only three tries, a bonus point would have gone begging. Arguably last season would have looked better on the Premiership table had more bonus points been bagged.

So this time Exeter had other ideas. When back row Rusi Tuima scored another with the last chance of the game, the stadium’s roar was louder than ever.

With a Sandy Park record attendance of around 15,000, every decision that went in Cheifs’ behalf was followed by a rapturous cheer and Chiefs' chants. They never lost their voices until the final whistle. 

Exeter move up to fourth in the league table, and will spend Christmas in the playoff places - although with a very long way to go. Next week's journey is relatively short though, as Chiefs, and many fans in tow, travel up to Ashton Gate to face Bristol Bears.