Ashton reaches 100 Premiership tries in Leicester rout

Leicester wing Chris Ashton scored a hat-trick as he became the first player to record 100 Premiership tries in a 62-19 hammering of Exeter on Sunday.

Defending champions Leicester have all but sealed a top-four spot and have an outside chance of a home semifinal in the playoffs.

But the Chiefs' playoff hopes are effectively over – they are 10 points off fourth place with just two games left to play.

?? The moment Chris Ashton reached the landmark. #GallagherPrem #LEIvEXEpic.twitter.com/lWj4Npwp5O

— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) April 16, 2023

Exeter were making a decent fist of trying to end their worst-ever away run in the Premiership until their wing Olly Woodburn was harshly red-carded just after halftime.

Leicester were leading 22-12 at that point but they took full advantage of the dismissal to storm their way to an emphatic victory – their sixth consecutive league win.

Ashton, who said this week he would retire at the end of the season, now has 101 tries in the English top flight.

Sometimes you've just got to sit back and admire... ??

Chris Ashton has saved his best celebration for try No.101 ??#GallagherPrem | #LEIvEXE pic.twitter.com/mmPF7iBV3l

— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) April 16, 2023

As well as hat-trick hero Ashton, Matt Scott scored two tries for Tigers with Dan Kelly, Jack van Poortvliet and George Martin also touching down.

There was also a contentious penalty try award, with Handre Pollard kicking a penalty and four conversions. Jimmy Gopperth added two conversions.

Sam Simmonds, Stuart Hogg and Rus Tuima scored Exeter's tries, with Joe Simmonds and Harvey Skinner each slotting over a conversion.