Tigers beat Saints 28-7 as four-try derby win lifts Leicester to second

Leicester Tigers supporters saw their side climb to second in the Prem with a 28-7 derby victory over Northampton Saints at Mattioli Woods Welford Road. Four tries after the interval secured a bonus point and avenged last season’s play-off semi-final defeat.

Gloucester remain above Leicester, while Saints fall to fourth. Northampton’s wait for an away league victory against their neighbours now stretches to four years.

Four tries turn the derby

Torrential rain made possession difficult for both teams. Northampton took the lead when Billy Searle failed to gather a kick from Fin Smith, leaving James Pater to collect and score. Freddie Steward’s penalty from 50 metres gave Leicester their only first-half points.

A touchline confrontation involving several players followed the half-time whistle, with Ollie Chessum pushing England team-mate Henry Pollock down the tunnel, BBC News reports.

Leicester then took charge. Jamie Blamire finished a driving maul before Cam Henderson crossed following a strong carry by Solomone Kata and a combination with Gabe Hamer-Webb.

Finn Carnduff added another from Joe Heyes’ short pass. Steward completed the four-try haul by stepping past Archie McParland, securing the bonus point.

Parling praises players’ response

Tigers boss Geoff Parling credited his players with fixing the problems that had hampered their early set-piece work.

Parling told BBC Radio Leicester: “The set-piece didn’t function early on. We were slow to adapt to the officiating there, but we got on the front foot and showed our power and application in that side of the game.”

Despite the confrontation, Parling said the dressing room had been calm at half-time, with the emphasis on greater accuracy rather than extensive tactical changes.

Northampton boss Phil Dowson told BBC Radio Northampton that his team had lost control of the kicking game after the break. He also pointed to penalties at the set piece and a failure to generate possession or pressure.

Source: BBC News