Exeter shock Leicester on opening day

Leicester flyhalf George Ford missed two drop goals as Exeter secured a shock 30-28 win at Welford Road on the opening day of the  season on Saturday.

Exeter led 23-15 at half-time thanks to tries from Sireli Naqelevuki, Matt Jess and Tom Johnson, all converted by Ignacio Mieres who also kicked three penalties.

   But Leicester piled on the pressure in a frantic finale and looked to have secured the win only for Ford to miss a straight-forward drop goal wide of the upright.

   Exeter were hanging on for dear life still with their two-point advantage as the last play of the game arrived with the Tigers camped on the Chiefs’ 22.

   Leicester, who had two tries from Niall Morris and one from Thomas Waldrom, had one last attempt at a drop goal from Ford but his effort from 30 metres went wide and Exeter secured their first win over Tigers in the Premiership.

   In the double-header at Twickenham, Saracens’ return to the national stadium ended on a sour note as they lost 20-15 to Wasps.

   The defending champions, back at headquarters for the first time  since their title win over Leicester in May, allowed Wasps to come from behind and take the win with a late Tom Varndell try.

   The defeat continued a curse for any side defending its title, with Saracens becoming the ninth team to suffer an opening-fixture loss in 11 years.

   Elsewhere, an immaculate seven-out-of-seven kicking display by Nick Evans enabled Harlequins to beat London Irish 29-24.

   The former All Blacks fly-half kicked five penalties and converted tries by James Johnston and England winger Ugo Monye.

   Irish responded with two excellent tries from former England winger Topsy Ojo, with full-back Tom Homer kicking four penalties and a conversion to have the consolation of a bonus point.

   Worcester resumed life in the top flight with a hard earned 17-12 win over a spirited Sale side at Sixways.

   The Warriors scored the only two tries of the game and should have won more comfortably with Sale only having 12 points from the boot of Nick Macleod to show for their efforts.