Chiefs fall just short of taking famous Leicester scalp

LEICESTER boss Richard Cockerill has put the Aviva Premiership on red alert following his team's great escape against top-flight newcomers Exeter.

The Chiefs, fresh from beating Gloucester on their Premiership debut, led Leicester 27-16 at Welford Road with barely 15 minutes left of a riveting encounter. And although the reigning league champions hit back to record a bonus-point 37-27 win, Cockerill saw enough to convince him that Exeter mean business this season.

"I didn't know what to expect from Exeter – but I do now, and so does the rest of the Premiership" said former England hooker Cockerill. They gave us an almighty fright. They are a good team who will cause a lot of problems for a lot of people.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"For them to play like that and get nothing out of the game must be sickening. They deserved something."

Exeter, whose last victory over Leicester came three months before England's soccer team won the 1966 World Cup, scored tries through Phil Dollman (2) and Mark Foster, while fly-half Gareth Steenson took his Premiership points tally to 30 in just two games.

"A bonus point was the very least we deserved," said Exeter head coach Rob Baxter.

Saracens rugby director Brendan Venter was delighted his team got back on track yesterday with a 28-13 victory over Sale – and then claimed the defeat against London Irish last weekend provided the platform.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

England scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth kicked 13 points against his former club while fellow home debutants Deon Carstens and David Strettle scored tries to go with an effort from hooker Schalk Brits.

Sale replied with a David Seymour try and a conversion and two penalties from Nick MacLeod – all in the first half.

Venter said: "At Twickenham last week, we found out the hard way that you have to produce your very best every week to be successful.

"Had we managed to win that despite playing poorly, we'd have thought we are better than we are."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Bath, whose last league title success came 14 years ago, moved top of the Premiership after a 20-13 home win against London Irish, although victory came at a cost.

Four of Bath's internationals – Matt Banahan, Lee Mears, Simon Taylor and David Flatman – went off injured and are unlikely to be fit for an appointment with Northampton at Franklin's Gardens on Friday.

"It's early days, and I don't think they (injuries) are overly-serious, but I wouldn't expect them to make a six-day turnaround," said Bath head coach Steve Meehan.

England discard Olly Barkley kicked 15 points in front of red rose coaches Brian Smith and John Wells, but Bath needed an injury-time Nick Abendanon try to seal the points after 14-man Irish had threatened an unlikely win.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Despite the Exiles having their Samoan No 8 George Stowers sent off for a high tackle on Abendanon and centre Elvis Seveali'i sin-binned, wing Jonathan Joseph's try and Ryan Lamb's touchline conversion meant they entered injury time leading by a point.

Northampton followed up their opening weekend success against Leicester by clinching a 20-16 verdict at Harlequins, where Saints skipper Dylan Hartley and wing Chris Ashton scored tries for the visitors.

"To win two out of two at the start of the season is what you are after," said Northampton rugby director Jim Mallinder.

"But we have Bath at home next Friday, and then Saracens away, so it is a difficult start for us."