Match Centre: Gallagher Premiership: Leicester 62-19 Exeter

Leicester 62-19 Exeter, Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium

Chris Ashton starred with a hat-trick as Leicester made most of the red card to Olly Woodburn defeating Exeter Chiefs 62-19 in the 22nd round of the Gallagher Premiership at Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium.

The result meant Leicester Leicester all but sealed a top-four spot with 58 points while Exeter's play-off hopes came down dashing with the defeat.

Despite losing prop James Cronin to injury early in the game, the Tigers were the first to open the account as Dan Kelly dived in the corner after a strong carry from Jasper Wiese. Four minutes later, the home side doubled their tally as this time England scrum-half van Poortvliet crossed over in the corner after good work from Ashton.

Handre Pollard kicked both the conversions as Leicester raced to a 14-0 lead in the opening 10 minutes.

Exeter Chiefs immediately responded as Sam Simmonds went past three Leicester defenders to dot down but around the half hour mark Woodburn was sin-binned by referee Karl Dickson for a deliberate knock-on as a Pollard penalty goal stretched Leicester's lead to 17-5.

Despite down on the numbers, Exeter made amends with Stuart Hogg going over after collecting an inside pass from Simmonds with Joe Simmonds improving it to make it 17-12 but indiscipline continued to haunt them as Rory O'Loughlin was yellow carded at the stroke of half time for a deliberate knock on.

This time Leicester punished the visitors as Ashton collected on a kick from Anthony Watson for his first try of the game as Leicester completed the opening half with a 22-12 lead.

The problems compounded for Rob Baxter's men early in the second half as Woodburn was sent-off following a second yellow card this time for a dangerous tackle that also resulted in a penalty try for Leicester. As Ben Youngs came off the bench, he went on to record his 300th appearances for the Tigers.

Ashton, who looked threatening scored the second of the evening with a slick dive in the corner - and he was followed over the line just moments later with an almost identical move by Scott to make it 48-12. It also made Ashton the first player to score 100 Premiership tries.

Soon the 50-point mark was breached by the home side as Ashton completed his hat-trick before Scott and Rus Tuima traded tries in the final 10 minutes.

Team line up:

Leicester: Steward, Ashton, Scott, Kelly, Watson, Pollard, Van Poortvliet, Cronin, Montoya, Cole, Martin, Henderson, Liebenberg, Reffell, Wiese.

Reserves: Clare, West, Heyes, Snyman, Cracknell, B Youngs, Gopperth, Potter.

Exeter: Hogg, Wyatt, O'Brien, Kata, Woodburn, S Simmonds, Becconsall, Abuladze, Yeandle, Iosefa-Scott, Dunne, J Gray, Davis, Tshiunza, J Simmonds.

Reserves: Innard, Sio, Street, Williams, Tuima, Townsend, Skinner, O'Loughlin.