A dominant defensive display saw Leicester Tigers claim East Midlands bragging rights over Northampton Saints, Tigers shutting the defending champions out on their home patch, 33-0.
Tigers shot out to a 23-0 advantage, and never gave an inch until the final whistle, the result and four tries giving Leicester a crucial bonus point win.
First Half
Northampton applied early pressure, but it was Tigers who struck first. After soaking up the Saints’ attacking efforts, Leicester made their way upfield, and slick passing from Joseph Woodward and Handré Pollard set Adam Radwan free down the right wing for the opening try.
It wasn’t long before Leicester extended their advantage. Scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet showcased his brilliance in the 10th minute, spotting a gap at the ruck and darting through from beyond halfway. A well-executed chip over the last Saints defender saw him gather and score under the posts. Pollard made no mistake with the conversion, putting Tigers 12-0 up.
The momentum stayed firmly with the visitors, and a pinpoint kick from Pollard piled further pressure on Northampton. Adam Radwan forced the Saints into touch, and from the resulting lineout, Olly Cracknell crashed over for Tigers’ third try.
Pollard added a pair of penalty goals to make it 23-0 at the break.
Second Half
With a commanding lead, Tigers showed no signs of easing up. Henderson returned after passing his HIA, providing further stability to the visitors’ pack. Nine minutes into the second half, Pollard slotted another penalty to extend Leicester’s lead to 26-0.
Saints had more of the ball, but Tigers remained in control, defending their line with the same energy and enthusiasm as the first minute of the game.
Then in the 75th minute, Tigers sealed the victory with a try from Charlie Clare.
Commentary
FULL TIME IN NORTHAMPTON
A brilliant return to league action from the lads, coming away with five points from Northampton after a 0-33 win over Saints!
CON | HANDRÉ POLLARD
Handré converts to make it 0-33 with only three minutes left in Northampton.
TRY | CHARLIE CLARE
Bonus point secured with five minutes remaining as Charlie Clare dives over under the posts after the replacement hooker swoops on. Saints mistake just yards out from their own line.
FINAL CHANGE FROM CHEIKA
Ben Volavola is the final change, clearing the bench, from Michael Cheika with seven minutes to go in Northampton.
TRIPLE CHANGE TO THE PACK
Charlie Clare, Côme Joussain and James Whitcombe are on for the final 10 minutes.
DOUBLE CHANGE IN THE BACKLINE
Izaia Perese and Ben Youngs are on with just over 15 minutes remaining in Northampton.
OLD KING COLE
Dan Cole is brought into the game, with 22 minutes remaining, for Joe Heyes at tighthead prop.
CHANGE IN THE BACK ROW
Emeka Ilione is on at openside flanker in place of Tommy Reffell.
PEN | HANDRÉ POLLARD
Handré adds the first points of the second half, after nine minutes, to extend the lead to twenty-six.
BACK IN ACTION
Handré Pollard gets us going again in Northampton!
LEADING AT THE BREAK
Ahead, 0-23, at the break after three tries in the first 40 minutes!
PEN | HANDRÉ POLLARD
The lead is out to twenty-three points, 0-23, after half an hour in Northampton with a second penalty goal for Handré.
HIA PASSED | CAMERON HENDERSON
Cameron Henderson is back after passing his HIA, which sees Côme Joussain return to the bench.
PEN | HANDRÉ POLLARD
Our lead is extended to twenty with a long-range penalty goal from Handré.
HIA | CAMERON HENDERSON
Cameron Henderson is forced from the field for a Head Injury Assessment (HIA) and replaced by Côme Joussain in the second row.
TRY | OLLY CRACKNELL
A perfectly placed kick from Handré is tracked by Adam Radwan, who drags the Northampton defence into touch and, from the lineout to follow, Olly Cracknell is on the end of a well executed set piece move to crash over for our third.
CON | HANDRÉ POLLARD
Handré lands the conversion attempt to make it a twelve point lead after 10 minutes in Northampton.
TRY | JACK VAN POORTVLIET
The quick stepping scrum-half spots a gap at the side of the ruck and sets off from beyond halfway before chipping over the last line of Saints defence, regathering and scoring next to the posts for our second.
TRY | ADAM RADWAN
After weathering an early onslaught from the home side, the lads make their way up field and strike first on the back of our first real chance deep in the Saints half.
Some slick, quick hands from Joseph Woodward and Handré Pollard set up the speedster, Adam Radwan, to run in the first down the right wing.
UNDERWAY IN NORTHAMPTON
The Dervby Day Rematch gets going in Northampton!