Exeter Chiefs close on Wasps with 15-34 bonus point win over Leicester Tigers

Leicester Tigers 15-34 Exeter Chiefs, Welford Road
Scorecard

A dominant first half performance from Exeter Chiefs saw them secure a 15-34 bonus point victory over Leicester Tigers in their Aviva Premiership encounter at Welford Road on Friday.

The win has taken Rob Baxter's men close to table toppers Wasps, who have a one-point lead with an additional game in hand while Leicester Tigers are struck at fifth position.

An early try from prop Michele Rizzo got Leicester Tigers off the mark but Exeter Chiefs bounced back through a cross over from Kai Horstmann four minutes later and a conversion from fly-half Henry Slade took the visitors to a two-point lead.

The two point lead remained intact for Exeter Chiefs after both Owen Williams and Slade exchanged penalties and Leicester Tigers suffered a setback when hooker Tom Youngs was sin-binned in the 22nd minute which also resulted in the penalty try for the visitors.

Stu Townsend extended Exeter's advantage when he strolled past the post in the 32nd minute while a conversion and a penalty from Slade took them to a 8-27 point lead at half time.

Leicester Tigers made a brief comeback in the game when Maxime Mermoz danced past the post in the 52nd minute and the gap came down to 12 points after Williams added the extras.

Despite, a yellow card to lock Geoff Parling, lock Mitch Lees secured the bonus point for Exeter Chiefs with his try in the 59th minute as the visitors completed a convincing 19-point win.