Exeter came from 26-6 down to secure a dramatic 27-26 win and inflict a rare home defeat on Sale as the Gallagher Premiership resumed after a month-long break for the autumn internationals. Alex Sanderson’s Sharks had lost only once at home in the league since January 2024, but the visitors from Devon showed impressive spirit to mount a superb second-half fightback.
Three tries from Jack Yeandle, Olly Woodburn and Scott Sio, all converted by Henry Slade, gave the Chiefs victory and sent them top of the table on points difference ahead of the weekend action.
England flanker Tom Curry was sin-binned in the fifth minute and Exeter back-rower Tom Hooper followed six minutes later, both yellow cards coming for dangerous tackles. Sale looked in control after early scores from full-back Luke James and winger Alex Willis, but Exeter were not to be denied.
Curry started his first Sale game of the season alongside England team-mates Luke Cowan-Dickie, George Ford and Asher Opoku-Fordjour, the quartet having starred for Steve Borthwick’s side over the autumn. Exeter named England pair Slade and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso as well as Wales’ Dafydd Jenkins, Italy’s Andrea Zambonin and Australia’s Hooper and Len Ikitau.
Sale began strongly and took the lead through Ford’s accurate kicking and James’s first-half try, Ford converting and adding further points to put Sale 19-6 ahead at the interval. Early sin-bins disrupted both sides, and Ford’s boot helped Sale establish control in the opening period.
After the break Willis stretched Sale’s advantage with a try in the 46th minute, converted by Ford, leaving Exeter facing a 26-6 deficit. The Chiefs roared back: Yeandle crashed over from close range in the 55th minute with Slade converting; Woodburn produced a superb diving finish in the left corner seven minutes later, Slade again on target; and Sio touched down from close range in the 70th minute, Slade converting to complete a stunning turnaround and seal a 27-26 win for Exeter.
Leicester get comprehensive win over Newcastle
Geoff Parling made a triumphant return to Kingston Park as his Leicester side extended Newcastle’s winless start to the Gallagher Premiership season with a 39-17 victory. Leicester completed a clinical five-try performance, including two for Joaquin Moro, to move up to third in the table.
Leicester opened the scoring on six minutes when Billy Searle landed a 40-metre penalty, before lock James Thompson scored from a close-range drive with Searle converting. Newcastle responded when Brett Connon found space with a long pass for full-back Ethan Grayson to score, Connon converting.
Newcastle’s lead was short-lived: within two minutes Moro burst through a gap for a Leicester try which Searle converted. The Red Bulls reduced the deficit to 17-10 at the interval with a Connon penalty, but the Tigers dominated the second half. Freddie Steward finished off Leicester pressure for a try, Searle converted and added a penalty to make it 27-10.
Leicester clinched the four-try bonus point seven minutes from time when Moro took a superb angle to score after a counter led by substitute James O’Connor and assisted by Ollie Hassell-Collins; Orlando Bailey converted. Richard Palframan crossed for Newcastle late on, but Leicester had the final say when flanker Tommy Reffell finished a penalty lineout drive with an unconverted try, sealing a 39-17 victory.