Match Centre: Exeter Chiefs 24-20 Leicester Tigers

Exeter Chiefs 24-20 Leicester Tigers, Sandy Park

Patrick Schickerling scored a last minute try as Exeter Chiefs edged out Leicester Tigers 24-20 in the opening game of the Gallagher Premiership at Sandy Park on Saturday.

The win will be a relief to Rob Baxter's men, who had a disappointing last season and it came after heroics from Schickerling, who had a try disallowed earlier.

Joe Simmonds started the proceedings early with a second minute penalty goal after Tommy Reffell was was pulled up for infringing at a ruck before Freddie Burns kicked a three-pointer of his own in the 12th minute to level the scores after Exeter newcomer Solomone Kata infringing this time.

Just as the first quarter was about to end, the visitors lost Burns to sin-bin for deliberately punching the ball dead after Harvey Skinner chipped past the Leicester defence with Simmonds racing to the ball denying Exeter a certain try. Referee Christophe Ridley also awarded Exeter with a penalty try making the scoreline 10-3.

Baxter's men though did not make use of the numerical advantage as Burns returned back from the sin-bin with no further damage to the scoreline and even slotted a penalty goal by the 35th minute to reduce the gap to four points.

Nevertheless, Exeter had the better ending to the opening half as Tonga international Solomone Kata scored the first try of the game that Simmonds converted to take them to a 17-6 lead heading into the break.

Leicester showed better intent in the second half as Dan Cole charged down a Simmonds' kick allowing Hanro Liebenberg to dot down in the 48th minute and Jimmy Gopperth's conversion meant the gap once again came down to four points.

Steve Borthwick's side seized on the momentum and took the lead for the first time in the game as Charlie Claire crossed over at the back of a line out just inside the end of the third quarter and Gopperth's conversion made it 17-20 as the game entered the final phase.

Exeter thought they got the lead back but Schickerling's try was disallowed for a knock on and soon they suffered a setback as Alec Hepburn was sin-binned in the 66th minute for a high tackle.

Nevertheless, Exeter held their nerve and were presented an opportunity in the closing stage as Liebenberg was caught offside and Schicklerling dived from close range to seal a thrilling win.

Team line up:

Exeter Chiefs: J Simmonds; Nowell, Whitten, Kata, Woodburn; Skinner, Townsend; Hepburn, Yeandle, Street, Dunne, Gray, Kirsten, Tshiunza, Capstick.

Reserves: Innard, Kenny, Schickerling, Van Heerden, Ewers, J Maunder, O'Loughlin, Cordero.

Leicester Tigers: Ashton; Potter, Scott, Gopperth, Saumaki; Burns, Youngs; Cronin, Clare, Cole, Wells, Snyman, Martin, Reffell, Liebenberg.

Reserves: Taufete'e, Van Wyk, Hurd, Henderson, Cracknell, Wigglesworth, Cokanasiga, Murimurivalu.