Exeter Chiefs rallied in the final minutes of Saturday’s Premiership clash to defeat Leicester Tigers 35‑26 at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, earning a vital bonus point and climbing back into the top four with one round left. Andrea Zambonin’s 74th‑minute try and Henry Slade’s late penalty sealed the comeback,marking Exeter’s first away win over Leicester since March 2025.

Bonus‑point victory lifts Exeter to fourth place

Exeter’s win moved them into fourth on the league table, three points ahead of Saracens, according to the match report. The bonus point – awarded for scoring four tries – is especially valuable with only a single regular‑season game remaining, keeping the Chiefs in contention for a home play‑off quarter‑final.

Late‑game heroics: Zambonin’s try and Slade’s penalty

After falling behind 29‑27 in the 69th minute, Exeter responded when second‑row Andrea Zambonin stretched over in the left corner to retake the lead. the report notes that Slade’s subsequent penalty not only extended the margin to 35‑26 but also denied Leicester a losing bonus point, underscoring the strategic ipmortance of every kick in the final minutes.

Discipline cost Leicester : Woodburn’s sin‑bin shift momentum

Exeter’s Olly Woodburn was sin‑binned for a deliberate knock‑on in the 58th minute, giving Leicester a numerical advantage. The source says the Tigers capitalised, with Olly Cracknell scoring and later hooker Charlie Clare crossing to put Leicester ahead 29‑27. The episode highlights how discipline can swing momentum in tightly contested fixtures.

First away win at Welford Road since March 2025

The victory marks Exeter’s first triumph on Leicester’s home turf in over two years, a fact highlighted in the source. That rarity adds psychological weight to the result,suggesting the Chiefs have overcome a historic hurdle that has often stymied their away campaigns.

Who will clinch the final play‑off spot?

Leicester remain third, two points behind Bath, with a deciisive clash between those two sides scheduled for next weekend. as the report points out, the outcome of that match will determine home‑field advantage in the play‑offs, leaving Exeter’s fate partially in the hands of their rivals.