Exeter Chiefs produced a fine second half performance to defeat Leicester Tigers 30-6 and move 10 points clear at the top of the Premiership.
The Chiefs struggled to play their usual free-flowing style before the interval, with the wind and rain making ball retention particularly difficult, but they did go into the break 6-3 in front thanks to Henry Slade and Gareth Steenson penalties.
George Ford provided Leicester’s response in the first half, kicking Matt O’Connor’s outfit briefly level, before the fly-half did the same minutes into the second period.
It failed to last, however, as Exeter upped the intensity and took control with Don Armand touching down with just under half-an-hour remaining.
The visitors had the conditions in their favour but it ended up playing havoc with the Midlanders as stand-in full-back Jonny May misjudged a box-kick and allowed Slade to score.
With the result secured, the West Countrymen could relax and Jonny Hill and Jack Yeandle rubberstamped the win late on.
The Tigers have struggled over recent weeks and this result continued their poor form as they succumbed to a sixth consecutive defeat – their worst run since 1965.
The Midlanders were initially resilient in defence and restricted Rob Baxter’s men to few opportunities. Lachie Turner and Jack Nowell probed, searching for any chinks in the away team’s armour, and were sometimes successful in finding space in the outside channels, but those forays were in contrast to the rest of their backline.
Exeter did eventually manage to get themselves in front when Slade kicked a long-range penalty but Ford responded for Leicester to level matters at 3-3.
Despite not being at their best, the Chiefs hit back and were ahead at the interval as Steenson was on target from the tee after the visitors infringed at a scrum.
Leicester, with the wind in their favour, opened the second half brightly and for the second time their fly-half scored a three-pointer, but the hosts gradually found their rhythm.
They built the phases, taking play up from halfway to deep inside the 22, and eventually the Tigers’ defence ceded as Armand crashed over.
Exeter now had the momentum and they sealed the victory through Slade. May had done a decent job at full-back but the England international made a huge error by tapping the ball down to the home team’s centre, who had the simple job of scampering over unopposed.
The Tigers looked to respond but Exeter remained firm and secured the bonus-point victory through late Hill and Yeandle tries.
The scorers:
For Exeter:
Tries: Armand, Slade, Hill, Yeandle
Cons: Steenson 2
Pens: Slade, Steenson
For Leicester:
Pens: Ford 2
Exeter: 15 Lachie Turner, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Sam Hill, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Gareth Steenson (c), 9 Will Chudley, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Don Armand, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Sam Skinner, 3 Harry Williams, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Alec Hepburn
Replacements: 16 Jack Yeandle, 17 Carl Rimmer, 18 Tomas Francis, 19 Mitch Lees, 20 Sam Simmonds, 21 Nic White, 22 Ian Whitten, 23 James Short
Leicester: 15 Jonny May, 14 Nick Malouf, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Adam Thompstone, 10 George Ford (c), 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Sione Kalamafoni, 7 Luke Hamilton, 6 Mike Williams, 5 Graham Kitchener, 4 Mike Fitzgerald, 3 Dan Cole , 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Logovi’i Mulipola
Replacements: 16 Tom Youngs, 17 Kyle Traynor, 18 Chris Baumann, 19 Harry Wells, 20 Valentino Mapapalangi, 21 Sam Harrison, 22 Joe Ford, 23 Mathew Tait
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Assistant referees: Anthony Woodthorpe, Luke Pearce
TMO: Geoff Warren
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