Leicester Tigers ended their Gallagher Premiership season with a four try, feel-good win over Exeter Chiefs at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
Tigers started brightly, but it was Exeter who would get the first score, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso finishing off a slick move on the right-hand touchline.
Henry Slade converted to make it 7-0.
Tigers responded through Pollard’s boot, the home side forcing penalties with their speed of ball out of the ruck.
Leicester kept fighting for every ball, and were creating opportunities. The ball found Ollie Hassell-Collins with room to move and the thoroughbred showed blistering pace and power to score from long range.
Pollard added the extras to make it 10-7.
The Tigers faithful were starting to purr and the players responded, this time Jack van Poortvliet finding half a gap in Exeter’s defence to score another brilliant try.
Pollard stayed perfect off the tee and it was 17-7.
Tigers looked to be in again but an intentional knockdown from Olly Woodburn only resulted in three points, though the winger would spend 10 minutes in the bin.
Feyi-Waboso was then shown a card for a deliberate slap down of his own, though it was Exeter who would pull the game to within 10 points before half-time.
Tigers continued to apply pressure in the second half, showing brilliance with ball-in-hand for a Tommy Reffell try before Mike Brown pushed it to 34-10.
Exeter got back into the game through Dan Frost and then disaster struck as Tigers lost Jasper Wiese to a red card.
Chiefs crossed again with just over 10 minutes to play and Tigers now needed to dig in at 34-22.
Tigers found some energy, and worked the ball into Exeter’s half. A penalty came and Kieran Wilkinson kicked the three, his first points in the Premiership for Tigers, the score now 37-22.
The hosts enjoyed the final word, Wilkinson doubling his points tally with a second well taken kick as the whistle was blown, ending the game at 40 - 22 to Tigers.
Commentary
FULL TIME AT MATTIOLI WOODS WELFORD ROAD
Leicester Tigers are victorious in their final game of the 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership, scoring four tries in a feel-good win over Exeter Chiefs.
Final score: Leicester Tigers 40 - 22 Exeter Chiefs
PENALTY | KIERAN WILKINSON
Tigers put a bow on their performance with a final set of points, Wilkinson slotting confidently again.
PENALTY | KIERAN WILKINSON
And Wilkinson makes it count.
A confidently taken kick from the substitute gives Tigers further breathing room in their lead.
73
Tigers keeping the pressure on
Tigers are doing well to blunt Chiefs' momentum, a soaring catch from Hassell-Collins off a box kick gaining great territory as the side crash up in waves inside the visitors 22, lead admirably by the likes of Steward who has been relentless.
Eventually, the pressure tells and Tigers win a penalty.
CONVERSION | EXETER CHIEFS
Henry Slade adds the extras with an impressive kick from the far right side.
TRY | EXETER CHIEFS
Chiefs make their mad advantage count instantly, substitute Ross Vintcent battering over from short range.
RED CARD | JASPER WIESE
On his final Tigers appearance, Jasper Wiese recieves a red card for foul play.
65
HARRY WELLS APPRECIATION
Freddie Steward does superbly to sprint back and prevent a certain try, dragging down no. 8 Greg Fisilau and getting over the ball.
He can't quite win the turnover but a phase later Harry Wells can, the lock straight over the ball to huge applause.
59
CONVERSION MISSED | HENRY SLADE
From the far right touchline, Slade can't add the extras so the gap remains 19 points.
TRY | EXETER CHIEFS
The visitors pull back with a score in the corner from hooker Dan Frost amongst a mass of bodies.
SUBSTITUTIONS | LEICESTER TIGERS
Kieran Wilkinson is on for his Tigers Premiership debut, replacing Handré Pollard; James Cronin is also on as Van Wyk departs for the final time, Charlie Clare enters for Montoya and Olly Cracknell is on for tryscorer Tommy Reffell.
CONVERSION | Handré Pollard
Pollard adds the extras with another excellent kick.
TRY | MIKE BROWN
A wonderfully worked score.
Tigers go full cha cha slide with a reverse reverse; the first a reverse pass that sees Martin storm through a gap before quick play from the base sees a second reverse pass with Steward galloping onto it.
He executes a two on one perfectly with Matt Scott who looks like he'll have a dream finish to his Tigers career and touch down but he's cruelly brought down centremetres short.
With Chiefs scrambling back, veteran Mike Brown is first there and can pick and dive over the line, dunking the ball down with one hand.
SUBSTITUTIONS | EXETER CHIEFS
Significant changes in the pack as the visitors change the whole front row, Dan Frost, Billy Keast and Ehren Painter all on, as is lock Christ Tshiunza.
SUBSTITUTION | TIGERS
Dan Cole comes off to considerable appreciation from the Breedon stand as Joe Heyes comes on to replace him.
CONVERSION | Handré Pollard
From the far left side, Pollard furthers the lead.
TRY | TOMMY REFFELL
And Tigers get the score as a result!
Chiefs boot it long but it's caught on the run and suddenly Leicester have fashioned a two on one on the left touchline, Hassell-Collins executing to perfection to allow Reffell to stroll home on the wing.
Van Wyk surely claiming an assist, albeit tangential, for that one.
43
FRANCOIS VAN KICK
On his final Tigers appearence, prop Van Wyk stabs through the punt and gives chase to huge applause, forcing a goal line drop out.
THE SECOND HALF BEGINS
Exeter's Harvey Skinner gets us underway and the final 40 minutes of Leicester Tigers' 23/24 Gallagher Premiership season begin.
HALF TIME AT MATTIOLI WOODS WELFORD ROAD
Tigers lead at the break as two scintillating scores from Hassell-Collins and van Poortvliet gives the side a ten point lead, after Chiefs' Feyi-Wabosoo had opened the scoring.
Leicester Tigers 20 - 10 Exeter Chiefs
YELLOW CARD | EXETER CHIEFS
A second sin bin for Chiefs, again from a deliberate knock on as Tigers looked to break; this time it's the opposite wing, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso who sees yellow.
Olly Woodburn has now completed his time in the sin bin and returns to the field.
PENALTY | EXETER CHIEFS
Henry Slade kicks a simple penalty from in front of the posts to narrow the score to ten points as half time approaches.
33
STRONG SCRAMBLE DEFENCE
Visiting scrumhalf Tom Cairns makes a weaving break from the base, it's almost Van Poortvliet esque but the Chiefs man can't make it to the line.
Dan Cole has tracked back tremendously to bring him down before Harry Wells and Wiese get straight over that ball to win a turnover in their own 22.
PENALTY | Handré Pollard
From the penalty around thirty metres out, Pollard slots between the sticks with aplomb.
YELLOW CARD | EXETER CHIEFS
Olly Woodburn recieves a yellow card after a deliberate knock on as Tigers looked to break.
CONVERSION | Handré Pollard
The Springbok adds the extras and Tigers increase their lead.
TRY | JACK VAN POORTVLIET
A second score for Tigers!
Freddie Steward initially carries up and Chiefs set their defence wide.
But Van Poortvliet has spotted the gap and he picks up from the base and steps one, two, three defenders and has the acceleration to dot down!
CONVERSION | Handré Pollard
Pollard adds the kick from the left hand touchline and Tigers extend their lead to three points.
TRY | OLLIE HASSELL-COLLINS
WHAT A SCORE!
At the half-way line, Hassell-Collins recieves the ball in space after Tigers had bypassed the blitz defence through rapd hands.
From there it's pure speed and power, the wing at full pelt racing upfield. He's just 10 metres out when a covering defence gets there but OHC just goes right through him, swatting him aside and touching down in in the corner.
18
THE ULTIMATE BIG BOOT
Both half backs have their kicking boots on today, as both Pollard and Jack van Poortvliet have hit 50 metre kicks either side of the penalty.
Van Poortvliet hit an almighty box kick after Tigers had turned the ball over on the their own line and, as Chiefs try to kick through five minutes later, Pollard booms a clearance right back into midfield.
PENALTY | Handré Pollard
Tigers get their first points on the board.
It's Springbok 10 Pollard who almost dives over himself, the fly half hitting a lovely unders line to shoot through a gap before being brought down just metres out.
However, the referee adjudicates that Chiefs were offside when Pollard made his original break and when play is called back, the three points are kicked over.
CONVERSION | EXETER CHIEFS
A touchline conversion from Henry Slade adds the extras.
TRY | EXETER CHIEFS
It's England wing Feyi-Waboso who gets the game's opening score.
Fullback Dan Jon tries to skip through a gap but is tackled by Hassell-Collins; however, an offload in the tackle falls into looping winger Olly Woodburn's grasp who releases Feyi-Waboso to score in the corner.
3
BLISTERING START FROM TIGERS
The home side look hungry.
Wiese enjoys a trademark agricultural carry straight from a line out, battering through four men to thunderous applause.
At the next phase, the ball is then shifted out the back by Pollard, to Kelly who then releases Brown in space, Tigers up to the 22 before a crucial hit from covering winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.
Strong carries come in from Reffell, Hassell-Collins and Montoya before the ball skids out of play.
WE'RE UNDERWAY!
Mattioli Woods Welford Road is absolutely bouncing.
Handré Pollard kicks us off with a lofted nudge to the Chiefs 22, who clear early and knock on.
-10
TEN MINUTES TO GO!
As the teams are read out, the biggest roar of all is saved for last as departing no. 8 Jasper Wiese gets his flowers from the Tigers Family.
A packed out stadium is rocking with anticipation, as dozens of flag wavers and shakers feel the field and get ready for kick off.
The sun shines on Mattioli Woods Welford Road. All that's left is kick off.
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FOLLOW ALONG LIVE
Tigers will face Exeter Chiefs today, as the visitors look to go all out for a place in the Premiership play-offs.
If you're not heading to Mattioli Woods Welford Road, you can watch live on TNT Sports (via the red button) or stick with us right here on Matchday Live for all the minute by minute updates of the final matchday of the 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership.
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30 MINUTES TO GO!
There's just half an hour to go till Leicester Tigers' final home game of the 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership.
Mattioli Woods Welford Road is buzzing with activity so make sure to arrive with plenty of time to enjoy a full day out at the rugby!