Michael Cheika’s reign as Leicester head coach began in dramatic winning fashion as the Tigers claimed a 17-14 Gallagher Premiership victory at Sandy Park.
Wales international flanker Tommy Reffell’s try two minutes into stoppage time ensured an outstanding win on the road.
An error-strewn contest meant the game rarely moved out of second gear, yet second-half tries from No 8 Greg Fisilau and scrum-half Tom Cairns appeared to give Exeter breathing space.
Chiefs full-back Josh Hodge kicked two conversions but Tigers would not go quietly and flanker Hanro Liebenberg’s touchdown gave them hope, while Jamie Shillcock landed a drop goal and conversion, and Ben Volavola added the extras to Reffell’s clincher.
Former Australia and Argentina boss Cheika was appointed this summer, succeeding Dan McKellar and charged with reviving the fortunes of a club that finished eighth in the Premiership last term.
Sarries start season with victory at Gloucester
Saracens kicked off their Premiership season in impressive style with a bonus-point victory over Gloucester at Kingsholm.
Without departed skipper Owen Farrell, new recruit Fergus Burke slipped seamlessly into his shoes to guide the visitors to a morale-boosting 35-26 success.
Andy Onyeama-Christie scored two of their tries and Ivan van Zyl and Tobias Elliott the others, with Burke kicking two conversions and two penalties.
Freddie Thomas, Freddie Clarke, Jack Clement and Seb Blake scored tries for Gloucester, with George Barton adding three conversions.
Bath exact revenge on champions Northampton in Premiership opener
Bath turned the tables on Premiership champions Northampton as they opened their league campaign with a 38-16 victory at the Recreation Ground.
Three months after losing narrowly to Saints in the final, Johann van Graan’s team produced an impressive display on opening night.
And they triumphed in bonus-point fashion as tries from wing Joe Cokanasiga, flanker Ted Hill, scrum-half Ben Spencer, centre Ollie Lawrence and replacement Jaco Coetzee saw them home.
Fly-half Finn Russell kicked five conversions and a penalty, while Northampton could have few complaints about the outcome.
Flanker Josh Kemeny touched down on his Premiership debut for Saints, while Fin Smith booted a conversion and three penalties, yet they never seriously threatened to leave the west country with maximum points.
Bristol begin Premiership season with win at Newcastle
Bristol kicked off their Premiership season with a low-profile 24-3 win away at a much-improved Newcastle side on Friday night.
Under grey overcast skies in the north east, Newcastle and Bristol engaged in a scrum-ridden arm wrestle which opened up in the second half.
Newcastle, after a full summer of pre-season toughening up under director of rugby Steve Diamond, were a much sterner test than the side that capitulated to a record 85-14 defeat at Ashton Gate five months ago but still fell to their 22nd league defeat on the bounce.
A double from Max Malins and tries from James Williams and Siva Naulago, with AJ MacGinty adding two conversions, delivered Bristol’s bonus-point win at Kingston Park. Newcastle registered just three points from the boot of fly-half Brett Connon.
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