Leicester Tigers were defeated narrowly, 18-19, by Northampton Saints at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in Round 16 of the 2022/23 Gallagher Premiership season.
In a match that saw the lead change hands on four occasions, Leicester scored two tries to Northampton's one but were out-booted as George Furbank kicked 14 points from the tee to help see his side home.
Despite both sides missing a host of England internationals, Mattioli Woods Welford Road welcomed a sell-out crowd of 25,849 for the 251st East Midlands Derby in the first league fixture Tigers HQ in five weeks and a match that doubled as a farewell to Freddie Burns in his 115th and final appearance for the club.
A high tackle in the second minute on Harry Potter from Northampton full-back James Ramm saw the visitors down a man for the next 10 minutes, which the home side capitalised on when Potter crossed out wide for his first of the match.
Handré Pollard's touchline conversion saw Leicester out to a 7-0 lead after as many minutes before Furbank's first penalty cut the deficit for Northampton to four in the 12th minute.
Pollard put the home side back out to a seven-point lead approaching the 20 minute mark before back-to-back successful penalty-goal attempts from Furbank made it a one-point lead for the home side, 10-9, at the break.
Tommy Reffell was replaced at half-time by Olly Cracknell after suffering a knock in the first 40 minutes and Tigers were dealt a blow of their own in the opening 90 seconds of the second-half when Furbank's fourth and final penalty put Northampton in the lead.
Friendly fire between Tigers teammates saw Pollard taken off for a HIA in the 45th minute, to be replaced by Harry Simmons, which the fly-half failed.
However, the home side got themselves back in the lead when Potter crossed for his second sixty seconds after losing their fly-half.
Burns was unable to add the extras from out wide which meant Leicester's lead was only three points, 15-12, with just over half an hour remaining.
The lead was short-lived when a break down the right wing from Northampton was finished by Ollie Sleightholme and converted by Furbank, taking the visitors out to a four-point, 15-19, lead.
Burns added three on the hour mark to make it a one-point game, 18-19, where it remained.
Commentary
DEFEAT FOR TIGERS
Northampton Saints are victorious in the 251st East Midlands Derby, 18-19, in front of a sold out Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
SUB | LEICESTER TIGERS
Julián Montoya is off for Charlie Clare at hooker.
75
FINAL FIVE
Just five minutes remaining at Mattioli Woods Welford Road and only one point in it.
SUB | LEICESTER TIGERS
Freddie Burns is replaced, after his final appearance for Leicester Tigers, by Jimmy Gopperth.
Tom Whiteley is also on at scrum-half, for his club debut, in place of Sam Edwards.
SUB | LEICESTER TIGERS
Dan Richardson is on in the front-row in place of Will Hurd.
PEN | FREDDIE BURNS
Freddie Burns lands a long-range penalty-goal to cut Northampton's lead to one, 18-19, with 18 minutes remaining.
SUB | LEICESTER TIGERS
Tom West is on for his Leicester Tigers debut, replacing James Whitcombe, while George Martin is back after a lengthy lay-off in place of Eli Snyman.
CON | NORTHAMPTON
Saints lead by four points, 15-19, with just under half an hour remaining after George Furbank converts the try.
TRY | NORTHAMPTON
The visitors take back the lead with a try to Ollie Sleightholme.
47
CON MISSED
The scoreline remains 15-12 as Freddie Burns narrowly misses the conversion attempt from out wide.
TRY | HARRY POTTER
Harry Potter has a second, dancing around the Northampton defence out wide, after the opportunity is established by a patient, physical effort from the Leicester pack.
HIA | LEICESTER TIGERS
Handré Pollard is taken for a HIA and replaced by Harry Simmons in the Leicester backline.
PEN | NORTHAMPTON
The visitors lead, two minutes into the second half, as George Furbank lands a fourth penalty-goal for the afternoon.
41
SECOND-HALF GETS GOING
The second half is underway at Mattioli Woods Welford Road!
SUB | LEICESTER TIGERS
Olly Cracknell replaces Tommy Reffell in the Tigers back-row.
JUST ONE-POINT IN IT
Almost nothing between the sides at the break as Leicester take a 10-9 lead into the changing rooms.
PEN | NORTHAMPTON
It's a one-point game, with less than 10 minutes remaining, as George Furbanks sends his third penalty-goal attempt through the posts.
PEN | NORTHAMPTON
The difference is cut back to four points, 10-6, with a second penalty-goal for George Furbank.
PEN | HANDRÉ POLLARD
Leicester extend the lead to seven points, 10-3, after 19 minutes with a penalty-goal for Handré Pollard.
PEN | NORTHAMPTON
George Furbank lands a penalty-goal to cut the deficit to four points, 7-3, after 13 minutes in Leicester.
12
EVEN NUMBERS
Northampton back to a full compliment as James Ramm returns from his sin bin.
CON | HANDRÉ POLLARD
Handré Pollard converts from the touchline in front a packed Yodel Stand to make the lead 7-0 after 9 minutes.
TRY | HARRY POTTER
The first points of the afternoon are Leicester's after the ball is moved to the left wing, quickly through the hands, and Harry Potter finishes brilliantly.
YELLOW | NORTHAMPTON
The visitors go down to 14 men for the next 10 minutes after James Ramm is sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on Harry Potter.
KICK OFF IN LEICESTER
The home get things going here at Mattioli Woods Welford Road!
-10
DERBY DAY #251
We are at Mattioli Woods Welford Road for the 251st East Midlands Derby between Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints!