Exeter fly-half Ignacio Mieres is tackled by London Irish fullback Delon Armitage © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

Matches: London Irish 29 - 22 Exeter Chiefs

Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership

Teams: England | Exeter Chiefs | London Irish

London Irish head coach leapt to the defence of Delon Armitage after the fullback was accused of a dangerous tackle on Ignacio Mieres during Tuesday's 29-22 victory over Exeter Chiefs at the Madjeski Stadium.

Mieres needed treatment after being hit hard by Armitage, who has been banned four times this year, and Chiefs boss Rob Baxter was adamant that the Exiles fullback should have been penalised for a reckless challenge.

"It certainly dazed him [Mieres]," he said. "There is definitely an arm over the top. That is not alleged, you can see that pretty clearly.

"The touch judge was in a pretty good position and he gave his worth on what he thought it was. [But] I'm not too concerned about that; you just have to get on with it and play."

Booth, though, felt that his player had done nothing wrong and his hoping that Armitage's previous does not have a bearing on whether he is cited.

"He went in for a tackle from behind and, as the player has bent down, he has gone up over the top of him," he said. "It is a penalty at most in my opinion. But, as always, because of what has gone before, people will have a closer look."

As for the game itself, tries from Joe Ansbro and Shontayne Hape put the Exiles in control and even though Luke Arscott's touchdown dragged Exeter back into the game, the boot of Irish wing Tom Homer kept the visitors at arm's length.

"We took our chances and I'm delighted about that," Booth said. "We started exceptionally well, we took the game by the scruff of the neck and the reason why we didn't dictate was probably because the penalty count was two-to-one in their favour.

"We have made life more difficult for ourselves than we needed to but make no bones about it, we are delighted with the outcome. We just could have been a bit smarter.

"What I would say about the contest is that there was a lot of endeavour from both sides and, from a crowd point of view, it would suggest to me that it was an enthralling contest. People were positive and that has to be good for everyone."

Baxter, meanwhile, was left lamenting a slow start in which his side coughed up a try to Ansbro and two penalties to Homer.

"Ultimately, that first 20 minutes, we didn't play enough. In reality, we are a team which is learning," he said. "The only goal we gave ourselves this season was to be better. We came here last year and got nothing, now we have got a losing bonus point.

"We are just a better side when we go for it. My job is to free these guys up and make sure we go for it every week. By doing that, we will win more games than we lose."