Olly Woodburn scored two tries as Exeter pulled off a shocking 35-26 victory in a pulsating contest as Leicester missed the prospect to climb to second within the Gallagher Prem desk.
Leicester misplaced floor of their try and safe a house semi-final as Henry Slade’s last-minute penalty prevented them from taking something from the match, however they’re nonetheless safely into the play-offs.
With Bristol Bears’ hopes of constructing the highest 4 now over, fourth-placed Exeter’s match towards fifth-placed Saracens at Sandy Park on Saturday will resolve the ultimate crew within the play-offs. Exeter are three factors forward of Saracens within the desk.
Exeter have been deserved winners by scoring 4 tries to 3, with Len Ikitau and Andrea Zambonin additionally touching down whereas Slade kicked three penalties and three conversions.
Exeter forwards coach Ross McMillan mentioned: “We have been pissed off by our efficiency at Harlequins final week, however all through the season each time we have had a setback we have bounced again.
“The tight squad have nice character and have at all times responded once they’ve been knocked round a bit.
“We knew it could be a troublesome problem from the outset however the boys took it on board and I beloved the battles that went on at present, particularly the scraps on the ground and within the air as possession of that ball is important.
“The Leicester pack are used to dominating sides here so I’m incredibly proud at how we fronted up to them.”
Leicester’s tries got here from George Pearson, Olly Cracknell and Charlie Clare whereas Orlando Bailey added 11 factors together with his boot.
Hanro Liebenberg led out Tigers for his a hundred and fiftieth look for the membership and his facet have been quickly forward when Bailey kicked a fourth-minute penalty.
However virtually instantly from the restart, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso collected a clearance to sail previous three defenders earlier than timing his cross completely to ship Woodburn in underneath the posts.
Slade transformed and added an easy penalty earlier than Tigers replied with a formidable rating when Pearson collected a wonderfully judged cross-field kick from Bailey.
Leicester appeared to have regained the lead when a break from Bailey noticed Adam Radwan cross the road however TMO replays confirmed the wing had been held up by the mixed efforts of Slade and Harvey Skinner.
Nonetheless Tigers have been to not be denied and a second penalty from Bailey put them again in entrance however this was quickly nullified by one from Slade.
Leicester blew a golden alternative when Ollie Hassell-Collins failed to gather a poor cross from Pearson with the road at his mercy after robust runs from Jack van Poortvliet and Jamie Blamire had put the defence on the again foot.
However the hosts went into the interval 14-13 forward thanks to a different Bailey penalty.
Three minutes after the restart, Exeter scored a wonderful second attempt when a neat off-load from Dafydd Jenkins despatched Tom Hooper racing into the opposition 22 and when the ball was recycled, Ikitau out-flanked the duvet to attain.
Leicester modified 4 forwards in a single swoop however it didn’t pay dividends as Exeter instantly prolonged their lead when Woodburn took an inside cross from Ikitau for his second attempt.
Nonetheless Woodburn was then sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on with Tigers capitalising when Cracknell powered over to depart his facet trailing by 4 factors going into the ultimate quarter.
Woodburn returned from the sin-bin with no additional injury carried out to the scoreboard however on his return Clare completed from close-range to arrange a tense end.
A dealing with error from the house facet enabled Exeter to regain the lead when a protracted cross noticed Zambonin evade a weak problem from Adam Radwan for the bonus-point attempt with Slade’s last-minute penalty leaving Tigers with no factors from the sport.
