Chiefs mauled as wounded Leicester Tigers restore pride

They have a warning around these parts 'Beware of the Wounded Tiger'.

Having come unstuck at home to defending Aviva Premiership champions Harlequins on home soil the week previous, Leicester Tigers clearly had no intentions of suffering a similar fate as they welcome Exeter Chiefs into town.

Undone twice in the top flight by Rob Baxter's side last term, there would be no repeat this time round for the Tigers, who ran in three tries through winger Adam Thompstone, plus a further 15 points from the boot of fly-half Toby Flood.

In reply, the Chiefs countered with a first half penalty from Ignacio Mieres and a second half try from Ben White, but that would be the only bright points in a disappointing day at the office for the Devonians. Fresh from returning to winning ways against Saracens last time out, the Chiefs made two changes to their starting line-up with England international Tom Johnson returning in place of the injured James Phillips, whilst Jason Shoemark was back for the first time since the opening day of the season as he partnered Sireli Naqelevuki in the visiting midfield. The problems for the visitors, though, was that their attacking endeavours were somewhat toothless compared to previous weeks and Leicester were simply able to feed off the Exeter mistakes. For Baxter and his team, the next challenge is that of visiting Harlequins this Saturday, a fixture where an equally testing encounter awaits once more. 

*By Mark Stevens

For a full match report vist www.exeterchiefs.co.uk

Leicester Tigers 30

Exeter Chiefs  8

Tigers: N Morris; A Thompstone, M Smith, D Bowden (A Allen 50), V Goneva; T Flood (G Ford 67), S Harrison (P Phibbs 67); L Mulipola (F Balmain 67), T Youngs (J Stevens 72), D Cole (M Castrogiovanni 60); G Kitchener, G Parling; J Crane (capt, E Slater 61), J Salvi (B Deacon 12-16), T Waldrom.

Tries - Thompstone (3); Conversions - Flood (2); Penalties - Flood (3)

Chiefs: L Arscott; I Whitten, S Naqelevuki, J Shoemark (P Dollman 65), M Jess; I Mieres (G Steenson 67), H Thomas (W Chudley 51); B Sturgess (B Moon 61), C Whitehead (S Alcott 67), C Rimmer (A Brown 77); T Hayes (capt), J Hanks (A Muldowney 57); T Johnson (B White 61), J Scaysbrook, R Baxter.

Try - White; Penalty - Mieres

Referee: T Wigglesworth

Touch Judges: A Watson & P Burton

4th Official: D Pearson

Attendance: 19,292

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS v Harlequins (H), Aviva Premiership, Saturday, October 5 (3pm)