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Cheika era enjoys dramatic start as Leicester pounce late at Exeter
Michael Cheika’s reign as Leicester head coach began in dramatic winning fashion as the Tigers claimed a 17-14 Gallagher Premiership victory over Exeter at Sandy Park. Wales international flanker Tommy Reffell’s try two minutes into stoppage time ensured an outstanding win on the road.
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An error-strewn contest meant the game rarely moved out of second gear, yet second-half tries from number eight Greg Fisilau and scrum-half Tom Cairns appeared to give the Chiefs breathing space. Full-back Josh Hodge kicked two conversions but Tigers would not go quietly.
Flanker Hanro Liebenberg’s touch down gave them hope, while Jamie Shillcock landed a drop goal and conversion, and Ben Volavola added the extras to Reffell’s clincher.
Former Australia and Argentina boss Cheika was appointed this summer, succeeding Dan McKellar and charged with reviving the fortunes of a club that finished eighth in the Premiership last term. The early signs look good as Leicester prevailed despite having their former Exeter centre Solomone Kata sent off eight minutes from time following a high challenge.
Referee Tom Foley dismissed him following video replays after the player had already gone off for a head injury assessment. Exeter had the lion’s share of early possession but they were forced into a sixth-minute change when centre Ben Hammersley went off for an HIA and was replaced by Premiership debutant Paul Brown-Bampoe.
Hammersley’s permanent exit meant Olly Woodburn switching from wing to midfield alongside Joe Hawkins, before Chiefs saw flanker Ethan Roots depart for a HIA with Wales international Christ Tshiunza taking over.
Roots then returned to the action after Hodge hit a post from a long-range penalty attempt, but Exeter then saw scrum-half Niall Armstrong limp off and Cairns entered the fray. Given the punctuating loss of personnel, Exeter showed impressive cohesion to stay on top territorially and Leicester were temporarily reduced to 14 players when centre Izaia Perese was yellow-carded for killing possession.
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Exeter looked most likely to break the deadlock but they wasted a golden opportunity three minutes before the interval when England wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso broke clear, yet he opted not to free an unmarked Woodburn and the chance was lost.
Shillcock then dropped a goal with the final act of a turgid half as the Tigers pinched a 3-0 half-time lead. Leicester made a bright start to the second period, with wing Ollie Hassell-Collins’ break testing Exeter’s defence, but the hosts claimed the game’s opening try after 48 minutes.
Feyi-Waboso received the ball just inside the Leicester 22 and his elusiveness meant he attracted attention from three Leicester defenders, with Fisilau crossing unopposed from close range. Hodge added the conversion and Exeter’s dominant third quarter continued through a concerted attacking spell inside Leicester’s 22.
Powerful ball-carriers like Fisilau and Roots made the hard yards, allowing Cairns a simple finish from barely a metre out, with Hodge’s conversion opening up an 11-point gap. But just when Exeter looked as though they might enjoy a degree of comfort, Leicester hit back when Liebenberg crossed and Shillcock’s conversion meant the game was back in the balance.
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Kata’s red card swayed things in Exeter’s favour numerically, yet Leicester were denied a late penalty opportunity when the original decision in their favour was reversed following a high challenge by Tigers replacement Dan Kelly.
There was still time for Leicester after Exeter replacement Will Haydon-Wood was yellow-card for a high tackle and they sealed the deal following a driven lineout as Reffell touched down and Volavola converted.
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