“I wouldn’t be tarnishing his career at the Tigers off the back of that,” added MacKellar.
Although the Chiefs countered with late tries from both Dan Frost and Vintcent, much of the significant damage had already been done. Indeed, it was the Tigers who would finish with a flourish, replacement Kieran Wilkinson slotting two late penalties, one of which saw Exeter’s Harvey Skinner see yellow, to wrap up proceedings.
For both sides it’s time to draw breath, recharge the batteries, after which they’ll both be readying themselves to go on the Premiership prowl once more.
Match details
Scoring sequence: Feyi-Waboso Try (0-5), Slade Con (0-7), Pollard Penalty (3-7), Hassell-Collins Try (8-7), Pollard Conversion (10-7), van Poortvliet Try (15-7), Pollard Conversion (17-7), Pollard Penalty (20-7), Slade Penalty (20-10), Reffell Try (25-10), Pollard Con (27-10), Brown Try (32-10), Pollard Con (34-10), Frost Try (34-15), Vintcent Try (34-20), Slade Con (34-22), Wilkinson (37-21), Wilkinson (40-22)
Leicester Tigers: F Steward; M Brown, M Scott, D Kelly (S Kata 54), O Hassell-Collins; H Pollard (K Wilkinson 55), J van Poortvliet (T Whiteley 62); F van Wyk (J Cronin 55), J Montoya (c, Clare 59), D Cole (J Heyes 47); G Martin (F Carnduff 69), H Wells; H Liebenberg, T Reffell (O Cracknell 58), J Wiese.
Red Card: Wiese
Exeter Chiefs: D John; I Feyi-Waboso, H Slade, J Hawkins, O Woodburn; H Skinner, T Cairns (N Armstrong 54); S Sio (B Keast 49), M Norey (D Frost 49), M Street (E Painter 49); J Dunne (C Tshiunza 47), D Jenkins (c); E Roots, J Vermeulen, G Fisilau. Replacement (not used): W Haydon-Wood
Yellow Cards: Woodburn, Feyi-Waboso, Skinner
Referee: K Dickson
Attendance: 22,258