Leeds raced into a 14-0 lead but then spent almost an hour on the backfoot as the ambitious Chiefs looked to claim a major scalp.

Leeds certainly know how to start well under their new coaching regime. Just like at Headingley Carnegie six days earlier against Nottingham, Leeds came flying out of the blocks and took the game to the home side from the off.

Exeter had the first chance to score through a penalty from former Rotherham fly-half Gareth Steenson, but it was a rare visit for the home side to the Leeds half in the opening period. He hooked his chance wide after three minutes and the home side were left to rue that missed chance two minutes later.

Richard Welding, who had been drafted into the starting line up this week, timed his run to perfection to take a ball off a line out before bursting through the Chiefs defence. He was pulled down just short of the line, but centre Scott Barrow was in support to barge his way over for his first try for the club. Alberto Di Bernardo added the conversion to make it 7-0.

Leeds were playing with real flair and invention with Di Bernardo and scrum-half Scott Mathie orchestrating things for the visitors. They extended their lead after 12 minutes when hooker Vili Ma'asi charged through 20 metres out and then carried two would-be tacklers over the line with him. Di Bernardo was again successful with the boot to make it 14-0.

However, worrying for Leeds, just as against Nottingham, they then appeared to take their foot off the gas and allowed Exeter back into the game.

The home side missed a glorious chance to score, knocking on with a two-man overlap from five metres out. Leeds did not heed the warning, however, and three minutes later the Chiefs did cross. Josh Drauniniu cut through the visitors defence 25 metres out and then rounded Hinton to score. Steenson added the conversion to make it 14-7.

Leeds had chances in the remainder of the half, most notably for Biggs who caught a great cross-field kick from Di Bernardo but was just caught by his ankles as he appeared to be going through.

Steenson missed two more penalty chances either side of half time that could have seen the lead cut to just one point as it was he did eventually find his range and made it 14-10 after 53 minutes.

The home side enjoyed more possession in the opening 20 minutes of the second half as their forward pack looked to rumble down field at every opportunity. Unfortunately for them, when they tried to be more adventurous with the ball, their handling let them down.

They should have taken the lead with 10 minutes remaining when Nic Sestaret, broke down the touchline but a brilliant cover tackle by Hinton prevented him from getting over and as he tried to offload the ball three metres out, the ball was knocked on.

Exeter did manage to score on their next visit to the Leeds line when the visitors were penalised for offside at a ruck. Steenson kicked the penalty to make it
14-13 after 73 minutes.

That score seemed to finally wake Leeds from their slumber and they finally spent a period of time in the opposition's half after that. Di Bernardo attempted a drop goal with a minute left while Rob Rawlinson and Andy Boyde combined in a 50-metre break downfield, but the chances came to nothing and they were left to hang on to the slenderest of leads.

Head coach Neil Back said he was pleased to have taken points off their rivals, but there was still room for improvement.

"First and foremost I am pleased to have got the win," said Back.

"We are on target having got nine points from our first two games, but after a fantastic start with two quick tries we knocked off again and we were not consistent enough. I am sure both teams will improve this season; we need to improve significantly, the players know that and we will be working hard."

Exeter Chiefs: Kingdom, Sestaret, Rennie, Cornwell, Drauniniu, Steenson, Barrett, Budgen, Clark, Andress, Stevenson, Tuohy, Cracknell, Miller, Baxter (c). Replacements: Alcott for Clark (77), Parkes for Budgen (71), Skelding, Johnson for Cracknell (61), Stuart-Smith for Barrett (72), Pugh, Ward

Leeds Carnegie: Hinton, Welding, Hepworth, Barrow, Biggs, Di Bernardo, Mathie, MacDonald (c), Ma'asi, Pala'amo, Murphy, Pendlebury, Paul, Fourie, Oakley. Replacements: McGee for Pala'amo (64), Rawlinson for Ma'asi (64), Denton for Murphy (72), Boyde for Paul (48), Bedford for Mathie (68), Brooks for Barrow (60), Armstrong, Rawlinson for Oakley (BB53 rev 59).

Referee: Llyr Apgeraint Roberts.