Tigers maul the Chiefs

It was a heartbreaking end for a developing Chiefs side as they fell to defeat to Leicester Tigers at Mattioli Woods Welford Road to bring their 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership season to an end.

It was a slightly chaotic start from both sides as their want to get into the game immediately hampered their handling and defensive structures weren’t yet sound.

Chiefs were the first to take a settling breath. Working off a clean lineout from Dafydd Jenkins in the Tigers’ 22, the ball went cleanly through the hands of Joe Hawkins to Harvey Skinner onto Dan John for the break.

The fullback was tackled but got ball away from the floor to Olly Woodburn who fed fellow winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso to curve inside with a run to the line for the try.

It was a clean strike of the conversion from near the touchline for Henry Slade to secure the extra two points.

Handre Pollard got the home side onto the score sheet with 15 minutes on the clock when Exeter were penalised for straying offside just inside their own 22.

Tigers reclaimed their momentum at the outset of the second half. A chip-kick off the boot of Fracois Van Wyk forced Woodburn to dot the ball down for a goal-line drop-out.

The kick went awry, allowing Tigers to work the ball across field into the hands of danger man Tommy Reffell on the outside edge. The Welshman ran in the try which Pollard then converted.

With five minutes left on the board and an offside penalty awarded, Tigers elected to eat up some of the clock by going for a shot at goal, taking the full minute. Kieran Wilkinson secured the points to add to his side’s tally.

The Chiefs were dealt one last blow with the clock in the red as Harvey Skinner was shown a yellow card for a high tackle. Wilkinson went for goal, taking Tigers to a round 40 points and sealing the win.

Full-time: Tigers 40 – 22 Chiefs

For the full match report and line ups, click here.