Leicester Tigers have taken down Exeter Chiefs 28 -15 in round 10 of the Gallagher Premiership at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
Ben Youngs rolled back the years to score Tigers fourth try, Michael Cheika's side outlasting a spirited Chiefs outfit to secure a bonus-point win to kick off the New Year.
Exeter started the better of the two sides, opening the scoring inside five minutes through Henry Slade’s boot.
Tigers would get the first try 10 minutes later however, number 8 Olly Cracknell peeling off a scrum to score from close-range.
Handré Pollard converted to give Tigers the lead.
Leicester probably felt they had the upper hand for most of the next half-hour, and were next to score, this time through lock Cameron Henderson, the athletic second-row on-hand to take an offload from Pollard after the World Cup winner’s initial break.
Pollard’s conversion would be the last points of the half, 14-3.
Exeter came out firing after the break, scoring the next two tries, both through Tommy Wyatt, Josh Hodge converting the second to give Chiefs the lead.
A yellow card for Exeter replacement Will Rigg then shifted the momentum back in Tigers favour. The home side would take full advantage.
Initially, a searing break created by Joseph Woodward sent Dan Kelly through a hole. The forwards rumbled, and eventually the ball was shifted wide, and Freddie Steward found Ollie Hassell-Collins on the wing for Leicester's third try, and the flyer's 20th in Tigers colours.
Not to be outdone, Youngs completed the victory by scooting through a gap, outpacing the covering defence to dive over the sticks.
The conversion was successful and the game finished 28-15.
Commentary
FULL TIME AT MATTIOLI WOODS WELFORD ROAD
A big bonus point win sees Leicester Tigers start 2025 with a bang!
Second half scores from Hassell-Collins and Youngs finish the job, as the first match of today's Double Header goes Tigers' way.
PWR action up next as we welcome Sale Sharks.
Full time: Tigers 28 - 15 Chiefs
CONVERSION | Handré Pollard
Another simple nudge executed with aplomb.
TRY | BEN YOUNGS
Massive massive try!
Right in front of a packed Mattioli Woods stand, Ben Youngs dusts off an old classic, hitting a beautiful show and go from the ruck, slipping through an impossible gap and diving over the line.
Breathing room and a bonus point secured in the final few minutes of the match.
SUBSTITUTION | LEICESTER TIGERS
James Whitcombe replaces Nicky Smith.
74
SUPERB DEFENDING
Several minutes straight of pure carries from the Chiefs but Leicester do well to repel the grunt.
Tommy Reffell is the key man here, winning possession back after it goes spilling at the ruck, before Ben Youngs hoofs a massive box kick down field and clears to to the half way line.
SUBSTITUTION | LEICESTER TIGERS
Captain Julián Montoya is replaced by Charlie Clare.
CONVERSION | Handré Pollard
A pressure kick but who better than Pollard to deliver from out wide.
TRY | OLLIE HASSELL-COLLINS
And the crowd get what they ask for, a huge score!
It all starts with a terrific break from Dan Kelly, a flat pass picking out the centre in space. His step can't quite beat the full back but Tigers are forty metres up field and smell blood.
The forwards keep it tight in the right hand corner before slick hands see every back get a touch of the ball, Bassett, on the wrap around, finally flinging it to OHC to walk it in in the corner.
Tigers re-take the lead!
SUBSTITUTIONS | LEICESTER TIGERS
Ben Youngs and Dan Cole enter the field to a thunderous reaction as Mattioli Woods Welford Road throws it's weight behind it's team
YELLOW CARD | EXETER CHIEFS
Chiefs #23 Will Rigg is shown to the sin bin after taking out Freddie Steward in the air.
63
BOTH SIDES STRUGGLING TO KEEP THE BALL
Despite Chiefs' two scores, neither side has really gotten a hold of this half yet, with scrappy play from both teams.
There's a big scrum from Leicester as they look to make their way out of their half but the ball is lost and Exeter play the phases.
SUBSTITUTIONS | BOTH SIDES
Jed Holloway and Joseph Woodward are on for Tigers while Rusi Tuima and Richard Capstick are on for Chiefs.
CONVERSION | exeter chiefs
Chiefs take the lead through a looping conversion from the left touchline by Josh Hodge.
TRY | EXETER CHIEFS
Chiefs' scrum subsequently scores them a third try, the pass going blind and wing Tom Wyatt strolling in into space.
56
TRY DISALLOWED | EXETER CHIEFS
Exeter find space wide but Olly Cracknell is there to spin the tackler and force a knock on whilst grounding.
We're being pulled back for advantage though, Chiefs granted a penalty and opting for a scrum five metres out.
50
THE KICK BATTLE RAGES on
Both sides are trading possession in search of territory here, Pollard putting up mountainous bomb kicks, while Chiefs stab through grubbers into the backfield.
Eventually, Steward booms it long into touch, shifting play to a line out in the Chiefs half.
SUBSTITUTIONS | EXETER CHIEFS
Ahead of an important scrum in the Exeter half, the South Coast side make a complete change of the front row, hooker Jack Innard joined by props Will Goodrick-Clarke and Josh Iosefa-Scott.
44
CONVERSION MISSED | EXETER CHIEFS
Slade shoots wide from the corner.
TRY | EXETER CHIEFS
The visitors strike early after the break, a kick across the field landing in the hands of wing Tommy Wyatt who steps inside and scores.
HALF TIME CHANGE
Matt Rogerson has entered the back row at half time, in place of Hanro Liebenberg.
SECOND HALF IS UNDERWAY!
Exeter kick us off and the second 40 begins.
HALF TIME
It's half time here at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, with Tigers leading after two converted tries, one from Olly Cracknell and the second from Cameron Henderson.
Half time score: Leicester Tigers 14 - 3 Exeter Chiefs
39
PENALTY MISSED | Handré Pollard
Again the Chiefs line holds firm, Leicester struggling to break the resilient visitors.
Consequently, when a penalty opportunity emerges on halfway, Pollard opts to shoot for goal, the ball sailing just wide.
37
ONE END OF THE FIELD TO THE OTHER
Well in the Leicester half, Chiefs try a break on the short-side through fullback Josh Hodge and wing Tommy Wyatt but the latter is successfully ushered into touch.
From here, Handré relieves the pressure and clears to halfway.
A moment later, he's kicking to touch after Leicester win a midfield penalty and suddenly Tigers are threatening the line once again.
CONVERSION | Handré Pollard
A second conversion for Pollard, as straightforward as the first.
TRY | CAMERON HENDERSON
The big lock is back amongst the tries!
After returning from a year-long injury just a couple of weeks ago, Cameron Henderson scores under the sticks to stretch the Leicester lead.
Tigers had broken through in midfield and with just a few defenders around, Henderson's hard line was unstoppable from short range.
28
CHIEFS FIELD IT WELL
Exeter deal with the line out well and win back the ball, breaking free inside their own half.
They're eventually hauled down around halfway where an offload is spilled and the ball knocked on.
26
DANGEROUS POSITION FOR TIGERS
Both sides have been arm wrestling in Chiefs half for a good five minutes, kicks and hits traded with abundance.
Eventually Leicester win the penalty and it's kicked to touch right on the Chiefs try line.
20
PRESSURE RELIEVED
There's a penalty won and the penalty is kicked back to just inside the halfway line.
19
TREMENDOUS DEFENCE
The maul is stopped within seconds of it forming and the visitors change tact, Stu Townsend directing the ball left and right to willing runners.
But the hosts hold out and eventually force a knock on, granting reprieve in the form of a Leicester scrum just five metres from their own line.
18
TIGERS SUDDENLY ON BACK FOOT
Tigers had been looking to continue the momentum from that try, a couple of kicks claimed well and looking to probe the Chiefs defence.
However, Steward is pinged for holding on after carrying in and Henry Slade subsequently smashes a penalty from inside his own half to within a metre of the Tigers tryline.
Chiefs line out to come.
CONVERSION | Handré Pollard
Pollard adds the extras with ease.
TRY | OLLY CRACKNELL
Tigers are so close to the game's opening try, Hassell-Collins and then the forwards crashing in until right at the line.
Eventually Exeter are pinged for offside and Montoya opts to take the scrum, right in front of the posts.
Manna from heaven for a big No. 8 like Cracknell, Olly picks from the base and smashes through the scrum half to score.
10
CHIEFS HOLDING FIRM
Leicester are using the full width of the field and really shipping the ball around.
Hassell-Collins has had a couple of dangerous darts at the line but generally the visitors have held the line well.
There's a big opportunity though as a penalty conceded for Exeter sees Tigers kick to touch into the 22.
7
First scrum penalty of the match!
Joe Heyes smashes through his opposing prop and drives him downward, winning a scrum penalty for the hosts, kicked to touch.
6
First scrum of the match!
Exeter have enjoyed the bulk of possession so far with Tigers getting a first chance through a rolling maul activated inside their own half, giving them 10 metres.
Play is scrappy from there and eventually results in a Chiefs knock on, scrum to Leicester. A chance for the pack to put a marker down.
PENALTY | EXETER CHIEFS
Henry Slade slots a simple penalty to give Chiefs the lead and the opening points.
3
STEWARD COMPOSED EARLY
The fullback is busy early doors, fielding two kick throughs admirably.
The first, a bomb kick sent skyward, he matches midair and takes well under pressure before, a minute later, he collects a stab through, steps through the two tackles and punts a clearance long.
KICK OFF
We're underway at Mattioli Woods Welford Road!
-5
ALMOST READY
The flag shakers are out, the guard of honour are set and the players are in the changing rooms getting ready.
The first Gallagher Premiership action of 2025 is about to begin!
-25
TWO CHANGES TO TIGERS TEAM
Head coach, Michael Cheika has made two change to Leicester’s starting team with wing Josh Bassett starting in the 14 jersey, and Harry Wells starting at lock in place of George Martin.
Flanker Matt Rogerson come onto the bench to add to an experienced Tigers finishing group.
Check out the full team HERE.
-30
HALF AN HOUR TILL KICK OFF!
There's just 30 minutes to go until Leicester Tigers are back in action in the first of our Double Header matches!
The men are up first, battling Exeter Chiefs in the Gallagher Premiership.
Take your seats, switch on TNT Sports 1 or stick with us here, it's almost time for rugby!