Prem Round 1 - Tiggers Report
Aviva Prem Round 1
By Exeforever
September 4 2011
Exeforever reviews Exeter Chiefs away win at Leicester Tigers
Exe-static start to season as Chiefs put tears in the eyes of the Tigers
Leicester Tigers 28 Exeter Chiefs 30
Exeter deservedly beat a sub-strength Leicester side in a pulsating game that more than made up in drama for its intermittent quality. Both sides missed vital kicks with Twelvetrees' decision to kick against a strong wind from within his own half being the most mistifying and Steeno's 3 missed kicks being the least expected misses of the afternoon. Young Ford's 2 missed drop goals in the last moments were completely excusable given the pressure created by the ferocity of the Exe defence and the fact that the lad had 18,000 expectant Leicester fans baying for victory.
Irrespective of the "unfinished business" aspect of the game that carried over from last season's defeat Exe looked the sharper and more decisiive of the two sides from minute 1 to minute 80 plus the agonising period until the ball sailed wide and dead. To not concede a penalty in front of the posts and 15 metres out for a period of what was probably 2 minutes and felt like an hour, showed the highest standards of defence and the ref, Mr Wigglesworth had an excellent and even handed game in stark contrast to Mr Richards' performance 12 months ago.
Following on from the dispaly against Scarlets the previous week Exe dominated in scrum, lineout and defence, Mieres made the backs run smoothly and efficiently, Shoey's tackling was immense and Sireli has to be one of the best 13s in the Prem, not just for his try but every time he got the ball he made progress and it took two men to bring him down.
Negatives: Luke Arscott had a game he will want to forget very very quickly. One kick set up a Leicester try, he was totally AWOL for another and most of his kicking out of hand failed to find touch. Josh Tatupu isn't getting enough ball on the wing to give his talents a chance to shine and Hanks' injury is doubly unwelcome since cover in the second row is a bit thin.
Away wins in the Prem are rare, away wins at Leicester are rarer still. Come next May it will be Tigers not Chiefs in the Prem final but, just as we beat Sarries away last year, we can say that we have beaten Tiggers away this year.
Yesterday is now history, if we don't get a comprehensive win over Newcastle next week it will have counted for nothing. Bath, Wasps Sarries and Saints next is hardly an easy run of games yet we must consolidate our position whilst RWC is on.
Having said that though I hope that we will pack Sandy Park out on Saturday and cheer the boys to the rafters for the glorious win of yesterday, they have certainly deserved it.
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Re the Ref; a couple of missed knock ons by the ref, plus one dodgy call aside, I thought Wigglesworth did OK.
The harsh call in my opinion was during the first half, not long after TJ was pinged for not releasing as the assisting tackler (fair call btw) then just minutes later Waldrom did the exact same thing when Sturg was carrying, helping to tackle the man, then immediately contesting for the ball. Came to nothing, as TJ stole the line out close to our line, but it could easily have been Ex on the attack in the Tigers 22.
Still I would settle for that in every game this season.
Chiefs will be disappointed to have let the Tigers back in with some silly errors on several occasions shortly after scoring themselves, and of course the missed penalties didn't help, but the final minutes defensive effort was outstanding, and that, coupled with the win, will certainly serve them well in the months ahead.
Chiefs have added spice to the prem ! Good luck all season ( except in our return match !)