Tigers go top despite Exeter's brave efforts

Reigning Aviva Premiership champions Leicester hit the top of the table for the first time this season as they secured their fourth league victory in a row at Exeter yesterday.

A record attendance for Sandy Park - 10,495 - watched the game on a cold, clear Devon evening after the capacity of 10,700 had been reduced owing to the presence of the TV cameras.

Leicester had a dream start after less than three minutes when an error from wing Mark Foster allowed centre Manu Tuilagi to break before offloading to his brother Alesana to score.

Fly-half Jeremy Staunton missed the conversion from out on the left and Exeter were quickly on the scoreboard when fly-half Ryan Davis landed a penalty to take him past 100 points for the season.

Staunton took the Tigers further ahead with a 15-metre penalty from in front of the posts but then the Chiefs hit back as Davis split the posts again.

With ten minutes of the half remaining, Leicester turned down a shot at goal and ran the ball, Jordan Crane nipping in to score under the posts, with Staunton converting. Exeter hit back before the break, though, Davis kicking a 15-metre penalty to leave it 9-15 at half-time. Leicester started the second half strongly forcing Exeter to put in some big tackles to defend their line and the hosts came back and made Leicester concede another penalty which Davis slotted to reduce the arrears to three points.

As the game went in to the final quarter, England fly-half Toby Flood, who started the game on the bench after overcoming an adductor injury, missed a long-range penalty kick minutes after coming on.

Leicester did then exploit a pick and drive to test the Exeter defence and Crane again found a gap for the Tigers' third try, with Flood converting to give the visitors a ten-point advantage.

With seven minutes remaining, Exeter sub Gareth Steenson kicked a penalty but then failed with another as Leicester clung on for the win.