Archive December 28, 2025

The Prem.

Chiefs of Exeter (14) 24

Cons: Slade 3 Pens: Slade 3 Tries: Fisilau, Ridl, Varney

Tigers of Leicester (7) 10

At a sold-out Sandy Park match-up, Exeter defeated Leicester 24-10 to move into second place in the Prem.

Before Campbell Ridl, age 20, scored his first Prem try in stunning fashion to make it 14-0 after 25 minutes, Greg Fisilau opened the scoring for Exeter.

After a third Exeter try was denied by Harvey Skinner, Cameron Henderson went over to score the Tigers.

After Henry Slade’s penalty, the Tigers were 10 minutes into the game before Stephen Varney’s 72nd-minute try made it safe with a man sent down after receiving a yellow card.

In stoppage time, Ridl and Will Goodrick-Clarke both lost the ball as Exeter missed out on a try-scoring bonus point that would have elevated them above the table before Billy Searle scored a late penalty for the Tigers.

After Andrea Zambonin charged down a seventh-minute box kick that caused pressure on their line, the Tigers were unable to stop Fisilau’s powerful run from 15 meters in force three minutes later.

11 minutes later, after Exeter’s dynamic-looking attack had brought them to the line, the lead was almost doubled. However, Tigers held Bachuki Tchumbadze as he attempted to go over.

England under-20 winger Ridl, who has recently made an appearance in recent weeks, displayed all of his dynamism and more as he skidded past Ollie Hassell-Collins and swan-dived under the posts for an unforgettable first-ever Prem Rugby try.

When Skinner chipped in and scored moments later, replays revealed a careless push by Will Rigg on Izaia Perese in the build-up that might have prevented the Tigers center from reaching Skinner.

Slade kicked a 50th-minute penalty to break Leicester’s 10-point lead before Sam Williams tip-tackled the England center, which sent the Tigers’ replacement to the sin bin.

Leicester were reduced to 14 after Williams made his return, and Searle was found to have attempted to stop Skinner as the Exeter fly-half broke for the line.

Although Searle’s teammate, Anthony Woodthorpe, thought Skinner had been knocked down before scoring, the referee decided not to give away a penalty try.

The Tigers thought they had survived the second 14-man spell, but just as Searle was about to return, Fisilau broke through and fed Varney, who scored his second try in as many games.

With four minutes left, Searle converted a penalty for Leicester after Rusi Tuima’s replacement was sin-binned for head-on-head contact with Finn Theobald-Thomas.

As the clock ticked over the 80-minute mark, many fans believed their side had finished the game top of the table, but Ridl first lost control as he went over in the right corner, and Goodrick-Clarke dived in from close range after the ball was dislodged.

Yeandle, Goodrick-Clarke, and J. Thomas, Tuima, James, Chapman, Haydon-Wood, John, and Roots.

Sin bin: Tuima (76)

Leicester: Steward, Radwan, Perese, Kata, Hassell-Collins, Searle, Whiteley, N. Smith, Blamire, Heyes, Henderson, Chessum (c), Moro, Reffell, Cracknell, Perese, Perese, Perese, Perese, Perese, Perese,

class=”ssrcss-xbdn93-ItalicText e5tfeyi2″>Replacements: Bailey, Haffar, Hurd, Hurd, Thompson, Williams, Van Poortvliet, Bailey, and Hamer-Webb.

Sin bin: Williams (51), Searle (62)

The Prem

Exeter Chiefs (14) 24

Tries: Fisilau, Ridl, Varney Cons: Slade 3 Pens: Slade

Leicester Tigers (7) 10

Exeter returned to second place in the Prem as they beat Leicester 24-10 at a sold-out Sandy Park.

Greg Fisilau gave Exeter an early lead before 20-year-old winger Campbell Ridl scored his first Prem try in spectacular fashion to help make it 14-0 after 25 minutes.

Harvey Skinner had a third Exeter try disallowed, and moments later Cameron Henderson went over to put Tigers on the scoreboard.

Henry Slade’s penalty extended the lead 10 minutes after the break before Stephen Varney’s 72nd-minute try made the game safe with Tigers a man down after a yellow card.

Billy Searle scored a late penalty for Tigers, before Ridl and Will Goodrick-Clarke both lost the ball going over the line in stoppage-time as Exeter missed out on a try-scoring bonus point that would have sent them top of the table.

Tigers survived an early scare after Andrea Zambonin charged down a seventh-minute box kick that led to pressure on their line, but they could not stop the powerful run of Fisilau three minutes later as he went in through the Tigers line from 15 metres.

The lead was almost doubled 11 minutes later, but Tigers held up Bachuki Tchumbadze as he tried to go over after Exeter’s dynamic-looking attack had got them to the line.

And soon after, England under-20 winger Ridl, who has burst onto the scene in recent weeks, showed all his dynamism and more as he chipped the ball over his marker before regathering, skipping past Ollie Hassell-Collins and swan-diving under the posts for an unforgettable first-ever Prem Rugby try.

It could have been 21-0 moments later when Skinner chipped over and scored, however replays showed a needless push by Will Rigg on Izaia Perese in the build-up that could have stopped the Tigers centre having a chance of reaching Skinner.

Having weathered early Leicester pressure, Slade kicked a 50th-minute penalty to open up a 10-point gap before the England centre was tip-tackled by Sam Williams, which saw the Tigers replacement sent to the sin bin.

No sooner had Williams returned to the field Leicester were reduced to 14 again – this time Searle was judged to have gone in from the side as he tried to stop Skinner as the Exeter fly-half broke for the line.

Although referee Anthony Woodthorpe felt Skinner had been brought down by one of Searle’s team-mates before he could score, so did not award a penalty try.

Tigers thought they had again weathered the second 14-man spell, but just as Searle was about to return Fisilau broke through and fed Varney as the Italy scrum-half scored his second try in as many games.

Leicester scored their first points of the half with four minutes left as Searle converted a penalty after replacement Rusi Tuima was sin-binned for head-on-head contact with Finn Theobald-Thomas.

Much of Sandy Park thought their side had gone top of the table as the clock ticked over the 80-minute mark but Ridl first lost control as he went over in the right corner, while after a couple of penalties Goodrick-Clarke dived in from close range only to have the ball dislodged.

Exeter: Woodburn; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Rigg, Ridl; Skinner, Varney; Sio, Dweba, Tchumbadze, Jenkins (c), Zambonin, Hooper, E. Roots, Fisilau.

Replacements: Yeandle, Goodrick-Clarke, J. Roots, Tuima, James, Chapman, Haydon-Wood, John.

Sin bin: Tuima (76)

Leicester: Steward; Radwan, Perese, Kata, Hassell-Collins; Searle, Whiteley; N. Smith, Blamire, Heyes, Henderson, Chessum (c), Moro, Reffell, Cracknell.

Replacements: Theobald-Thomas, Haffar, Hurd, Thompson, Williams, Van Poortvliet, Bailey, Hamer-Webb.

Sin bin: Williams (51), Searle (62)

The Prem.

Chiefs of Exeter (14) 24

Cons: Slade 3 Pens: Slade 3 Tries: Fisilau, Ridl, Varney

Tigers of Leicester (7) 10

At a sold-out Sandy Park match-up, Exeter defeated Leicester 24-10 to move into second place in the Prem.

Before Campbell Ridl, age 20, scored his first Prem try in stunning fashion to make it 14-0 after 25 minutes, Greg Fisilau opened the scoring for Exeter.

After a third Exeter try was denied by Harvey Skinner, Cameron Henderson went over to score the Tigers.

After Henry Slade’s penalty, the Tigers were 10 minutes into the game before Stephen Varney’s 72nd-minute try made it safe with a man sent down after receiving a yellow card.

In stoppage time, Ridl and Will Goodrick-Clarke both lost the ball as Exeter missed out on a try-scoring bonus point that would have elevated them above the table before Billy Searle scored a late penalty for the Tigers.

After Andrea Zambonin charged down a seventh-minute box kick that caused pressure on their line, the Tigers were unable to stop Fisilau’s powerful run from 15 meters in force three minutes later.

11 minutes later, after Exeter’s dynamic-looking attack had brought them to the line, the lead was almost doubled. However, Tigers held Bachuki Tchumbadze as he attempted to go over.

England under-20 winger Ridl, who has recently made an appearance in recent weeks, displayed all of his dynamism and more as he skidded past Ollie Hassell-Collins and swan-dived under the posts for an unforgettable first-ever Prem Rugby try.

When Skinner chipped in and scored moments later, replays revealed a careless push by Will Rigg on Izaia Perese in the build-up that might have prevented the Tigers center from reaching Skinner.

Slade kicked a 50th-minute penalty to break Leicester’s 10-point lead before Sam Williams tip-tackled the England center, which sent the Tigers’ replacement to the sin bin.

Leicester were reduced to 14 after Williams made his return, and Searle was found to have attempted to stop Skinner as the Exeter fly-half broke for the line.

Although Searle’s teammate, Anthony Woodthorpe, thought Skinner had been knocked down before scoring, the referee decided not to give away a penalty try.

The Tigers thought they had survived the second 14-man spell, but just as Searle was about to return, Fisilau broke through and fed Varney, who scored his second try in as many games.

With four minutes left, Searle converted a penalty for Leicester after Rusi Tuima’s replacement was sin-binned for head-on-head contact with Finn Theobald-Thomas.

As the clock ticked over the 80-minute mark, many fans believed their side had finished the game top of the table, but Ridl first lost control as he went over in the right corner, and Goodrick-Clarke dived in from close range after the ball was dislodged.

Yeandle, Goodrick-Clarke, and J. Thomas, Tuima, James, Chapman, Haydon-Wood, John, and Roots.

Sin bin: Tuima (76)

Leicester: Steward, Radwan, Perese, Kata, Hassell-Collins, Searle, Whiteley, N. Smith, Blamire, Heyes, Henderson, Chessum (c), Moro, Reffell, Cracknell, Perese, Perese, Perese, Perese, Perese, Perese,

class=”ssrcss-xbdn93-ItalicText e5tfeyi2″>Replacements: Bailey, Haffar, Hurd, Hurd, Thompson, Williams, Van Poortvliet, Bailey, and Hamer-Webb.

Sin bin: Williams (51), Searle (62)

The Prem

Exeter Chiefs (14) 24

Tries: Fisilau, Ridl, Varney Cons: Slade 3 Pens: Slade

Leicester Tigers (7) 10

Exeter returned to second place in the Prem as they beat Leicester 24-10 at a sold-out Sandy Park.

Greg Fisilau gave Exeter an early lead before 20-year-old winger Campbell Ridl scored his first Prem try in spectacular fashion to help make it 14-0 after 25 minutes.

Harvey Skinner had a third Exeter try disallowed, and moments later Cameron Henderson went over to put Tigers on the scoreboard.

Henry Slade’s penalty extended the lead 10 minutes after the break before Stephen Varney’s 72nd-minute try made the game safe with Tigers a man down after a yellow card.

Billy Searle scored a late penalty for Tigers, before Ridl and Will Goodrick-Clarke both lost the ball going over the line in stoppage-time as Exeter missed out on a try-scoring bonus point that would have sent them top of the table.

Tigers survived an early scare after Andrea Zambonin charged down a seventh-minute box kick that led to pressure on their line, but they could not stop the powerful run of Fisilau three minutes later as he went in through the Tigers line from 15 metres.

The lead was almost doubled 11 minutes later, but Tigers held up Bachuki Tchumbadze as he tried to go over after Exeter’s dynamic-looking attack had got them to the line.

And soon after, England under-20 winger Ridl, who has burst onto the scene in recent weeks, showed all his dynamism and more as he chipped the ball over his marker before regathering, skipping past Ollie Hassell-Collins and swan-diving under the posts for an unforgettable first-ever Prem Rugby try.

It could have been 21-0 moments later when Skinner chipped over and scored, however replays showed a needless push by Will Rigg on Izaia Perese in the build-up that could have stopped the Tigers centre having a chance of reaching Skinner.

Having weathered early Leicester pressure, Slade kicked a 50th-minute penalty to open up a 10-point gap before the England centre was tip-tackled by Sam Williams, which saw the Tigers replacement sent to the sin bin.

No sooner had Williams returned to the field Leicester were reduced to 14 again – this time Searle was judged to have gone in from the side as he tried to stop Skinner as the Exeter fly-half broke for the line.

Although referee Anthony Woodthorpe felt Skinner had been brought down by one of Searle’s team-mates before he could score, so did not award a penalty try.

Tigers thought they had again weathered the second 14-man spell, but just as Searle was about to return Fisilau broke through and fed Varney as the Italy scrum-half scored his second try in as many games.

Leicester scored their first points of the half with four minutes left as Searle converted a penalty after replacement Rusi Tuima was sin-binned for head-on-head contact with Finn Theobald-Thomas.

Much of Sandy Park thought their side had gone top of the table as the clock ticked over the 80-minute mark but Ridl first lost control as he went over in the right corner, while after a couple of penalties Goodrick-Clarke dived in from close range only to have the ball dislodged.

Exeter: Woodburn; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Rigg, Ridl; Skinner, Varney; Sio, Dweba, Tchumbadze, Jenkins (c), Zambonin, Hooper, E. Roots, Fisilau.

Replacements: Yeandle, Goodrick-Clarke, J. Roots, Tuima, James, Chapman, Haydon-Wood, John.

Sin bin: Tuima (76)

Leicester: Steward; Radwan, Perese, Kata, Hassell-Collins; Searle, Whiteley; N. Smith, Blamire, Heyes, Henderson, Chessum (c), Moro, Reffell, Cracknell.

Replacements: Theobald-Thomas, Haffar, Hurd, Thompson, Williams, Van Poortvliet, Bailey, Hamer-Webb.

Sin bin: Williams (51), Searle (62)

The Prem.

Chiefs of Exeter (14) 24

Cons: Slade 3 Pens: Slade 3 Tries: Fisilau, Ridl, Varney

Tigers of Leicester (7) 10

At a sold-out Sandy Park match-up, Exeter defeated Leicester 24-10 to move into second place in the Prem.

Before Campbell Ridl, age 20, scored his first Prem try in stunning fashion to make it 14-0 after 25 minutes, Greg Fisilau opened the scoring for Exeter.

After a third Exeter try was denied by Harvey Skinner, Cameron Henderson went over to score the Tigers.

After Henry Slade’s penalty, the Tigers were 10 minutes into the game before Stephen Varney’s 72nd-minute try made it safe with a man sent down after receiving a yellow card.

In stoppage time, Ridl and Will Goodrick-Clarke both lost the ball as Exeter missed out on a try-scoring bonus point that would have elevated them above the table before Billy Searle scored a late penalty for the Tigers.

After Andrea Zambonin charged down a seventh-minute box kick that caused pressure on their line, the Tigers were unable to stop Fisilau’s powerful run from 15 meters in force three minutes later.

11 minutes later, after Exeter’s dynamic-looking attack had brought them to the line, the lead was almost doubled. However, Tigers held Bachuki Tchumbadze as he attempted to go over.

England under-20 winger Ridl, who has recently made an appearance in recent weeks, displayed all of his dynamism and more as he skidded past Ollie Hassell-Collins and swan-dived under the posts for an unforgettable first-ever Prem Rugby try.

When Skinner chipped in and scored moments later, replays revealed a careless push by Will Rigg on Izaia Perese in the build-up that might have prevented the Tigers center from reaching Skinner.

Slade kicked a 50th-minute penalty to break Leicester’s 10-point lead before Sam Williams tip-tackled the England center, which sent the Tigers’ replacement to the sin bin.

Leicester were reduced to 14 after Williams made his return, and Searle was found to have attempted to stop Skinner as the Exeter fly-half broke for the line.

Although Searle’s teammate, Anthony Woodthorpe, thought Skinner had been knocked down before scoring, the referee decided not to give away a penalty try.

The Tigers thought they had survived the second 14-man spell, but just as Searle was about to return, Fisilau broke through and fed Varney, who scored his second try in as many games.

With four minutes left, Searle converted a penalty for Leicester after Rusi Tuima’s replacement was sin-binned for head-on-head contact with Finn Theobald-Thomas.

As the clock ticked over the 80-minute mark, many fans believed their side had finished the game top of the table, but Ridl first lost control as he went over in the right corner, and Goodrick-Clarke dived in from close range after the ball was dislodged.

Yeandle, Goodrick-Clarke, and J. Thomas, Tuima, James, Chapman, Haydon-Wood, John, and Roots.

Sin bin: Tuima (76)

Leicester: Steward, Radwan, Perese, Kata, Hassell-Collins, Searle, Whiteley, N. Smith, Blamire, Heyes, Henderson, Chessum (c), Moro, Reffell, Cracknell, Perese, Perese, Perese, Perese, Perese, Perese,

class=”ssrcss-xbdn93-ItalicText e5tfeyi2″>Replacements: Bailey, Haffar, Hurd, Hurd, Thompson, Williams, Van Poortvliet, Bailey, and Hamer-Webb.

Sin bin: Williams (51), Searle (62)