Leicester Tigers can be proud of a battling performance emblematic of the fight they have shown throughout their debut Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby campaign as they scored four tries but fell to hosts Exeter Chiefs.

On a scorching day on the south coast, captain Natasha Jones kicks off the beginning of the end, the final home game for a Leicester Tigers side in 2023/24.

Early carries from Charlotte Fray and Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele set the tone as Leicester enjoy the lions share of possession for the opening ten minutes.

Making their way up the field, the hosts eventually fold, an infringement at the ruck allowing Tess Feury to slot an early penalty.

Tigers reclaim the ball immediately after Chiefs’ kick off fails to go 10 metres and the subsequent scrum collapses and through a Brody carry, look to play early, a knock on finally halting a sustained ten minutes of early possession.

From here, momentum is entirely flipped on its head as the hosts now dominate for the subsequent ten minutes.

Two tries come in quick succession, the first sees an overload on Tigers’ right sees wing Connie Clark go through, her last-second offload to Hope Rogers allowing the prop to touch down; a couple of minutes later, the ball sputters out of the scrum and scrumhalf Brooke Bradley reacts quickest, seizing it on the run and sprinting home with Tigers’ still realigning.

From here, the game really opens up and both sides have the bit between their teeth.

Tigers have chances on either flank, two lineouts that both go awry after they had build to the line.

It looks like their hard work will be for naught as the hosts muscle their way to the Tigers ten metre line but then Claire Gallagher pops up.

After already scoring one insane interception in the match against Loughborough Lightning, the Canadian international repeats the trick here, snatching the ball out of midair and sprinting all the way to the Chiefs line, a full length of the field score.

The hosts fight back with two swift tries in the five minutes, both through breaks down their favoured left-hand side that see Connie Clarke grab a swift brace.

Sandwiched between these two tries is a strong contender for strangest try of the season, on the final day. Sarah Nicholas scored her first Tigers try after slick hands had unleashed Feury on the right wing; the USA international has a lot to do but successive kicks put Chiefs under pressure and Nicholas’ hard work is rewarded.

She chases down the second grubber, tackles the receiver and when the ball spills away the centre reacts quickest to dive on it and score.

On the stroke of half time, the hosts put a bow on a well-fought first half, with a slick try down the right-hand side for wing Katie Buchanan, later to be crowned the side’s Supporters Player of the Year.

Half time score: Exeter Chiefs 31 – 15 Leicester Tigers

As the hosts kick off, a catch and crash from Katie Childs sets the tone early as Tigers get physical.

The likes of Fray, Brody and Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele all drive over the gainline as the visitors send in over 10 waves of big carries and drag their side into Chiefs half. However, eventually, the ball is lost and play resumes, the midfield a battlefield as both sides trade possession and go all out attack.

With Julia Omokhuale and Leah Bartlett on, Tigers land a penalty just ten metres out from the line and get set straight on for a rolling maul. The first attempt illegally brought down just a metre out so we go again. At the second time of asking, the ball goes short to Morgan Richardson and the rapid drive begins.

However, the hosts conjure a steal at the line of their own, lock Linde van der Velden ripping the ball away and sprinting up the line.

Tigers know that was a great chance and, after winning the ball back, aim to not let it slip through their fingers again.

The offloading game is at its best as Tigers keep the ball moving, half breaks here and there advancing the side a good 40 metres, sensible rugby allowing for incremental metres.

Eventually, five metres out, a final offload from Julia Omokhuale after a crashing run sees Tahlia Brody run clear to score.

Try as they might, a try bonus point in their sights, Leicester just cannot get over the line to score that crucial fourth try. For fifteen minutes, they throw the kitchen sink at the hosts, spreading the ball wide, keeping it tight, kicks over the top, anything to try and breach this defensive line which continues to hold steady.

Then, a bolt from the blue.

With less than two minutes on the clock, Charlotte Fray receives the ball on the left flank. The lock takes it pace but accelerates further, handing off successive attempted tackles and not slowing as, from almost halfway, she dives over the line to score in the corner.

Today’s match saw two main focuses for the side: to secure that eighth-place finish and to finish the season with their heads held high. Results elsewhere have meant that an eighth-place finish will not be possible, after Sale Sharks defeated Bristol Bears at home.

However, Leicester Tigers can be proud of the fight they showed today. The grit to keep coming back against a Chiefs side firing on all cylinders at home, in the baking heat and to get that fourth try in the dying embers of the game sums up what this team is about.

Leicester Tigers will be back, in 2024/25.

Full time score: Exeter Chiefs 59 – 27 Leicester Tigers