Exeter produced a dramatic 35-26 win at Welford Road, ending Leicester’s long unbeaten home run and creating a mouth-watering final day of the Premiership regular season before the play-offs.
Olly Woodburn finished with two tries as Exeter scored four in total — Woodburn (2), Len Ikitau and Andrea Zambonin — with Henry Slade contributing three penalties and three conversions. Leicester crossed three times through George Pearson, Olly Cracknell and Charlie Clare, while Orlando Bailey kicked 11 points, but the hosts left empty-handed after Slade’s late penalty wrapped up the victory for the visitors.
The result leaves Exeter three points clear of Saracens and sets up a decisive showdown at Sandy Park on Saturday for the final play-off spot; Bristol Bears’ hopes of a top-four finish are now over. Leicester, although they missed the chance to move up to second and secure a home semi, remain safely in the play-offs.
Exeter forwards coach Ross McMillan praised the squad’s response after a disappointing showing at Harlequins, saying the team had character and bounced back when tested, and highlighted how important the individual battles up front and at the breakdown were to today’s result.
Leicester began strongly: Bailey kicked a fourth-minute penalty and the Tigers took the lead at half-time thanks to another Bailey penalty, after an early Exeter reply. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s clearance put Woodburn in under the posts for Exeter’s opening try, converted by Slade. Pearson then finished a superbly timed cross-field kick from Bailey to give Leicester the edge.
A potential Radwan try was ruled held up after a break from Bailey, and Leicester went into the interval 14-13 ahead. Early in the second half, Exeter struck when Dafydd Jenkins released Tom Hooper into the 22; after recycled ball, Ikitau outflanked the cover to score. Woodburn then grabbed his second from an inside pass by Ikitau.
Woodburn was yellow-carded later for a deliberate knock-on, and the Tigers made him pay when Cracknell powered over to close the gap. Clare’s close-range finish then put Leicester back within four as the game entered a tense final quarter.
Exeter regained the lead when a long pass found Zambonin, who beat Adam Radwan’s weak tackle for the bonus-point try. Slade’s late penalty secured the 35-26 final score, denying Leicester any points from the match and leaving the season’s final Premiership standings to be settled on the last day.
Key moments included Hanro Liebenberg leading Leicester out for his 150th club appearance, the sin-binning of Woodburn, and several strong forward exchanges that ultimately swung the contest in Exeter’s favour.