EXETER Chiefs were no match for Leicester Tigers in the Premiership today, losing 45-15.

Eleven points from Owen Williams's boot and tries from Manu Tuilagi, Logovi'i Mulipola and Niki Goneva gave the Tigers a healthy lead at half-time.

Jack Yeandle and Ian Whitten scored Exeter's tries either side of the break, but the Tigers secured the bonus point through wing Adam Thompstone.

Replacement scrum-half David Mele added two late tries for the hosts.

Leicester Tigers: Hamilton; Goneva, Tuilagi, Allen, Thompstone; Williams, Ben Youngs; Ayerza, Tom Youngs, Mulipola; Deacon, Slater (c); Gibson, Salvi, Crane.

Replacements: Hawkins for T Youngs (63), Stankovich for Ayerza (67), Balmain for Mulipola (58), Kitchener for Deacon (53), Waldrom for Crane (63), Mele for B Youngs (65), Flood for Williams (58), Smith.

Exeter Chiefs: Arscott; Nowell, Whitten, Dollman, Vainikolo; Slade, Lewis; Moon, Yeandle, Tui; Mumm (capt), Welch: Ewers, White, Horstmann.

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie for Yeandle (53), Rimmer for Moon (53), Brown for Tui (53), Armand for Welch (51), Johnson for White, Thomas for Lewis (75), Steenson for Vainikolo (45), Jess for Nowell (40).

Referee: Dean Richards.

Attendance: 23,466.