Match Centre: Gallagher Premiership Round 1: Exeter 14-17 Leicester

Exeter Chiefs 14-17 Leicester Tigers, Sandy Park

Michael Cheika's reign as Leicester Tigers boss got off to the ideal start as Tommy Reffell scored the decisive try to edge out Exeter Chiefs 17-14 at Sandy Park.

The win for Leicester came despite losing Solomone Kata to a red card in the 70th minute following a high tackle on Jack Yeandle.

Exeter suffered an early setback as Ben Hammersley left the field for a Head Injury Assessment. Josh Hodge had an early penalty attempt which drifted wide in the 21st minute and six minutes later, Izaia Perese was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle.

Despite Exeter having the bulk of possession and looking more dangerous with ball in hand, Leicester broke the deadlock on the stroke of halftime with Jamie Shillcock kicking a drop goal.

Exeter responded when Greg Fisilau went past three tackles to touch down and in the 57th minute, Tom Cairns scored his first Premiership try. Hodge kicked both conversions to make it 14-3.

Leicester clawed their way back into the game as Hanro Liebenberg rumbled over at the back of a line out drive and Shillcock's conversion brought the gap down to four points.

The visitors' comeback attempt was dented when Kata was red-carded but there was to be late drama. Will Haydon-Wood was sin-binned for a high tackle and with the clock in the red, Reffell burrowed over from close range to complete a thrilling three-point victory.

Team line-ups:

Exeter: Hodge; Feyi-Waboso, Hammersley, Hawkins, Woodburn; Skinner, Armstrong; Sio (capt), Frost, Painter, Tuima, Capstick, Roots, Vintcent, Fisilau.

Replacements: Yeandle, Goodrick-Clarke, Iosefa-Scott, Dunne, Tshiunza, Cairns, Haydon-Wood, Brown-Bampoe.

Leicester: Steward; Bassett, Perese, Kata, Hassell-Collins; Shillcock, Van Poortvliet; Smith, Clare, Heyes, Well, Chessum (capt), Liebenberg, Cracknell, Hatherell.

Replacements: Theobald-Thomas, Cronin, Cole, Joussain, Reffell, Youngs, Volavola, Kelly.