Exeter Chiefs Edge Leicester Tigers to Move into Second Place
Exeter Chiefs moved back into second place in the Premiership with a 24-10 victory over Leicester Tigers at a packed Sandy Park. This win, following last week's triumph at Saracens, confirmed Exeter's rise after a challenging season the year before. The Chiefs dominated early on, with Greg Fisilau giving them a quick lead just a few minutes into the match. His powerful run saw him break through the Leicester defense from 15 meters out. Leicester could do little to respond in the opening stages, as Exeter controlled much of the play.
The Chiefs doubled their lead when 20-year-old winger Campbell Ridl scored a stunning try. Ridl, who has been a standout performer for Exeter recently, chipped the ball over his marker, regathered, and dodged Ollie Hassell-Collins to dive under the posts, scoring his first-ever Premiership try. This moment of brilliance made it 14-0 in Exeter’s favor after just 25 minutes.
Leicester struggled to get going, but they managed to find a response shortly before halftime. Cameron Henderson scored their first try of the match, with some quick handling from Jamie Blamire and Olly Cracknell setting him up for a strong finish. The Tigers were still very much in the game, and the scoreboard read 14-7 at the break.
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The second half started with Exeter maintaining the pressure, and Henry Slade extended their lead with a penalty in the 50th minute. However, things took a turn for Leicester when Sam Williams was sent to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle on Slade. Despite being a man down, Leicester’s defense held firm for a while, but Exeter's pressure was relentless.
Stephen Varney sealed the victory for Exeter in the 72nd minute with a try after a clever pass from Fisilau. By then, Leicester had been reduced to 14 players again, this time due to a yellow card for Billy Searle for a side entry into a ruck. The Tigers managed to claw back some points with a late penalty from Searle, but it was too little, too late.
Exeter’s attempts to secure a bonus point were thwarted in the dying minutes. Ridl and Will Goodrick-Clarke both lost the ball as they attempted to cross the try line in stoppage time, missing out on the extra point that would have seen them top the league. Nonetheless, the win was enough to put Exeter just one point behind Northampton, while Leicester remained in fifth place.
Exeter head coach Dave Walder acknowledged the team's growth, despite some missed opportunities. He mentioned that while the team wasn't satisfied with their accuracy, their progress was evident. Leicester's Geoff Parling, on the other hand, admitted that his squad was off in their preparation and play, which led to the loss. He was confident, though, that his team could learn from the defeat and improve as they continue through the season.
With this victory, Exeter are showing they have the potential to challenge for the title after last season's struggles. The team is in a positive place, and if they can maintain their form, a strong finish could be on the horizon.
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