George Ford’s drop goal was a pivotal moment in the victory over Exeter Chiefs and it also gave the fly-half a place in the Leicester Tigers history books.

Ford’s three-pointer, which helped Tigers to a 20-13 win against the defending Aviva Premiership champions, came six years and 27 days after his previous drop goal for the club, which was also against Exeter at Welford Road.

It is the second longest gap between drop goals in Tigers history, according to club historian and statistician Stuart Farmer.

Percy Lawrie, the club’s record try-scorer, scored his 6th drop goal away to Manchester on January 2, 1912 but did not land another one for eight years and 93 first-team appearances until he did so against Northampton at Welford Road in April 1921.

John Allen holds the record for most appearances between drop goals. His first came against the RAF at Welford Road in March 1970 on his 264th appearance for the club and his second came 158 games later at Nottingham in September 1974.

Geordan Murphy appears twice in the list of the nine longest gaps between drop goals. His first drop goal was against Coventry in the Pilkington Cup in 1998 but his next was four years and 290 days later away to Saracens in October 2002.

Murphy landed his third drop goal later that season, against London Irish at Welford Road on May 3, but his fourth was not until January 6, 2008 against Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop.

Statistics c/o Stuart Farmer/SFMS