Michael Cheika’s tenure as head coach of Leicester Tigers kicked off in thrilling fashion as his team secured a nail-biting 17-14 victory over Exeter in their Premiership opener.
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Leicester Triumph Despite Late Setback
Leicester’s victory was all the more extraordinary given they finished the match with a man down. Key player Solomone Kata was shown red after a head-to-head clash with ex-teammate Jack Yeandle.
However, in a dramatic finale, Tommy Reffell powered over the line, securing the win just as Exeter’s Will Haydon-Wood was sin-binned for a high tackle.
Fan Reactions to Kata’s Dismissal
The red card decision sparked lively debate among fans. One supporter expressed frustration at the referee’s performance, stating, “Red, yellow or nothing, Ref spent the rest of the game giving Leicester everything!”
Another fan pointed out the complexity of the collision, saying, “Well both heads collided, so I’m going to go for head-to-head. It’s not really a hard question.”
A third spectator shared their view on the incident: “Not sure there’s a clear head-to-head before the initial contact. Seems to be shoulder on shoulder, but there must be some sort of head contact with the way Kata was stumbling.”
A Promising Start for Cheika
Despite the controversy, Cheika’s team secured a valuable victory to start the season on a high note. With this dramatic win, Leicester Tigers have set the tone for what could be an exciting campaign under their new leadership.
Three England Exiles Shine for Bath as Steve Borthwick watches on…
After suffering a narrow 25-21 loss to Saints in last season’s final, Bath fielded 13 players from that match and looked eager to make a statement. From the opening minutes, the home side dominated with a series of bone-crunching tackles, while Northampton appeared off the pace compared to their title-winning form.
Spencer Stars with Leadership and Influence
Captain Ben Spencer was at the heart of Bath’s impressive display, earning the man-of-the-match award with a try, a try assist, and his trademark influence at the gainline.
His performance caught the eye of England head coach Steve Borthwick, who was watching from the stands.
With Northampton’s Alex Mitchell unavailable due to injury, Spencer seized the moment, delivering the kind of performance that has become his hallmark in recent seasons.
While other scrum halves may have greater flair on the international stage, none are as consistently vital to their team as Spencer.
“For him to come and deliver that performance was special,” Bath head coach Johann van Graan said. “Ben is a winner, and since he became captain, he’s only improved. He has big dreams in international rugby, but he’s completely focused on leading Bath.”