Premiership: Exeter Chiefs 17-22 Leicester Tigers - Chris Ashton equals Premiership try record

Chris Ashton equalled the Premiership all-time try-scoring record as his double helped league leaders Leicester to an impressive 22-17 win at Exeter

Ashton's early try and a score from Freddie Steward put Leicester in control at the break as the Tigers suffocated a scoreless home side.

Ashton intercept for the visitors' third after the restart equalled Tom Varndell's mark of 92 top-flight tries.

Dave Ewers and Patrick Schickerling's tries for Exeter made for a tense end.

Joe Simmonds' penalty with four minutes left ensured a losing bonus point for Exeter as the Chiefs tried hard to get a winning score in the final moments, but ultimately came up short.

Leicester's first win at Exeter in almost eight years sees them lead the Premiership by 12 points from second-placed Saracens and guarantees them a top-four finish.

Exeter remain fourth, two points above Sale and three clear of Gloucester who have a game in hand and are awaiting on a ruling after Worcester were unable to fulfil their fixture on Friday night.

Leicester started strongly, forcing three penalties close to the Exeter line before George Ford's beautifully judged cross-field kick found Ashton on the right wing and the former England winger caught superbly to dot down.

The visitors pinned Exeter into their own half for much of the first period through a combination of their own indiscipline — they conceded eight penalties and had Jacques Vermeulen sin-binned for a deliberate knock on after 24 minutes — and Ford's excellent tactical kicking with the wind at his back.

It was a kick that led to the second try after half an hour as Ben Youngs chipped over, the bounce wrong-footed Olly Woodburn and Steward was gather and go over with Exeter still down to 14.

Leicester were